Photography exhibition

War Photographers is an exceptional exhibition showcasing the work of three outstanding Czech photographers and soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army
during WW1.
Their collections of negatives and photographs remained unknown for almost ninety years, presenting us now with a rare opportunity to view the history through these
newly-discovered and truly unique images.


The exhibition is part of Open House London , an annual festival which allows the public free access to usually inaccessible and architecturally interesting places. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in London takes part in this year’s Open House London project and will be open to public on 20th and 21st September 2014, 10am – 5pm.


ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Gustav Brož
His name was identified from multiple photos and the detailed notes he made on all the photographed events. At the beginning of the war Broz was on the Italian front then was moved further east to the Russian front where he took most of his outstanding images. In the middle of 1916 he defected to Russia. Pictures like “In our kitchen”, “The Jump of the ambulance dog”, “Field smokehouse” and many other photos have already become treasures of Czech and world photography.

Jan Myšička
Hundreds of Jana Myšička’s negatives and copies have been carefully organized and well kept for over thirty years in the attic of Josef Bohuňovský who received them from Myšička’s daughter, Mrs. Mohelská. Jan Myšička fought in Eger in Hungary and also on the Italian front where he was injured twice.

Jenda Rajman
The Czech Republic possesses a unique collection of photographs thanks to Jenda Rajman, although unfortunately the negatives haven’t been preserved. Rajman was working in a military hospital in Podmelec (now part of Slovenia) where he photographed and documented his everyday life throughout the war. He saw the horrors of the war at close quarters especially when crippled soldiers from the front lines were brought to the hospital. In one image, there is a soldier with paper on his thumb which reads: 50,000 wounded ... These are absolutely unique pictures such as “brain surgery in field conditions”, a row of ambulances and a view of the “hospital” full of wounded soldiers, which was set up in an occupied joiner’s shop.