Josef Portman (1893-1968)

Publications Josef Portman (1893-1968). On the Border of Bibliomania summarizes and presents the results of a three-year research project. It aims to broaden the existing awareness of the work and collection of the Litomyšl bibliophile Josef Portman, but also to reconsider some persistent clichés related to his personality. Portman is presented here not only as a publisher, but also as a persistent collector, controversial patron and art lover. While his friend Josef Váchal, the author of the painting of two rooms of the house that is now Portmone's, is now widely known, the peculiar Portman has remained in Váchal's shadow as a demonic usurper of artworks. In reality, however, Portman devoted his life to literature, beautiful books and fine art. As a bibliophile and amateur printer, he was behind the creation of many interesting book titles, not infrequently published in only one or a few copies, often accompanied by an ingenious selection of artwork. He did not hesitate to approach artists such as Jan Konůpek, Zdenka Braunerová, Vojtěch Preissig, Milada Marešová, Josef Čapek or Karel Svolinský for collaboration. Among his favourite writers were Charles Baudelaire, Otokar Březina, Paul Claudel, Jaroslav Durych, Eugène Demolder, Gustav Flaubert, Franz Kafka, Pierre Louÿs and Miloš Marten. Although Portman was active in Litomyšl throughout his life, the character, scope and results of his activities went beyond the borders of his native region and, in some ways, also beyond the borders of the then Czechoslovakia. For example, he established contacts with Georges Rouault, Georg Grosz and Albert Schamoni. He also became one of the first publishers to publish illustrated texts by Franz Kafka in this country. The book pays special attention to Portman's art collection. The publication will present its history, the process of its formation and its journey from his native Litomyšl to Prague. It will explain why a major part of it was deposited in the Karásk Gallery in Prague and how it came to be in the collection of the Memorial of National Literature, where it became a separate collection.

Czech edition