Paja Jovanović’s Painting “The Card Players” Presented to the Public for the First Time
The acquisition of this masterpiece of Serbian painting represents a genuine act of cultural patriotism
For decades, a masterpiece of Serbian and world painting had been part of private collections, concealed from the public eye, and now it has shone forth in its full splendour and merged with the picturesque autumn landscape of Mount Rtanj. Paja Jovanović’s painting “The Card Players” was ceremoniously presented today at the Ramonda Hotel, and this historic acquisition is far more than a mere purchase of a work of art – it represents a genuine act of cultural patriotism.
The painting, which until now had not been known to the public, could easily have found its way into the hands of wealthy collectors abroad. However, representatives of the Ramonda Hotel have stated that their decisive motivation was their desire for this national treasure to remain in Serbia, and precisely in the place which, with its collection of 300 paintings, a library containing more than 3,000 titles, and a rich artistic programme, has already established itself as one of the principal cornerstones of Serbia’s cultural life.
“Ramonda is a hotel, but above all, it is one large family. We are creating something completely authentic – a space for both the soul and the body – and what is distinctive is that we have become ambassadors of Serbia, and subsequently of Eastern Serbia as well. The painting came into our possession quite by chance. The Stepanović family are patrons of cultural works. They were invited to assist in finding a buyer abroad, but when they went to see the painting, they were captivated by it and realised that it should become part of the family’s collection. And that is how it arrived at our hotel. All our guests, as well as those who come merely for a cup of coffee, can enjoy this masterpiece,” emphasised Tijana Šipka, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Ramonda Hotel.
A CULTURAL EVENT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER FOR THE REGION
Paja Jovanović was one of the most eminent Serbian painters, a pivotal figure in the era of realism and in the preservation of Serbian identity, and the acquisition of his painting “The Card Players” stands as a true example of how national heritage is safeguarded and how an unbreakable bond is created between the Serbian people and a work of art.
This painting was created in 1934. Chronologically, it belongs to Jovanović’s later productive period, when he was already extensively painting portraits. However, thematically and in terms of genre, it would belong to his earlier period, during which he predominantly painted genre scenes, and this is what tends to perplex people somewhat. We are speaking of a painter who lived for an entire century and, during that time, produced an enormous body of work of more than 1,100 artworks encompassing the most diverse genres, motifs, and themes. His painting should by no means be viewed in a linear manner. This is a painting that depicts male figures engaged in a typical masculine ritual – a moment of leisure and amusement – as they sit in a tavern playing cards. In essence, Jovanović is thematically returning to the subjects from which he began. He was an artist who created at the very height of his fame, unaffected by that fame, and therefore it comes as no surprise that, in those later years of his artistic career, he returned to these themes,” explained art historian Marija Simonović, who congratulated the hotel’s management on their exceptional collection and on having welcomed such an important work of art into their care.
She concluded by emphasising that this was “a cultural event of the highest order for the region,” while Aleksa Stepanović, on behalf of the entire family, extended his gratitude to the guests, invited them to always feel at home at the Ramonda Hotel, and ceremoniously unveiled the painting that will occupy a central place within the hotel – as well as on the cultural map of Serbia.