Ivan Kos was an important co-creator of Slovenian art in the first half of the 20th century. His complete works include portraits, landscapes, still lifes and genre depictions of social subjects with recognizable elements of Expressionism, New Objectivity and Realism. After graduating in Prague, he settled in Maribor, which he often portrayed in his works. His best graphics were created in 1930s. Compared to his earlier work, which adhered to the principles of New Objectivity, these are much more precise and less simplified. Among them is the linocut of the Jewish Tower in Maribor, depicting one of the most recognizable sights of old Maribor. In addition to its artistic value, the graphic also has a documentary significance, as the leftmost house and the part of the city wall with gates were later demolished. Delicately shaped twigs, tree leaves, roofing tiles, bricks and his ability to imitate the surface of various materials reveal Kos’ exceptional sense of detail. The work is similar in style to the naturalistic features in the vedutas of his contemporary Pipo Peteln. Also noticeable is the similarity of motif. The centuries-old architecture and the ever-changing image of Lent (Maribor’s riverside area) have always attracted Maribor’s painters, who have depicted its motifs in their numerous artworks.
(Sara Dobrajc, in the framework of the Creative Path to Knowledge project, Virtual Legends; The investment is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Social Fund)