In his books, Otto M. Urban was the first person to define Czech Symbolism in the fine arts as a distinct phenomenon acting in a proclamatory fashion as part of the broader European artistic stream. Thanks to his insight, Czech art found its place within the natural context of European culture. The exhibition and the book Mysterious Distances juxtaposes renowned artists such as Mucha, Kupka, Pirner, Knüpfer, Schwaiger, Švabinský, Bílek, Šaloun, Zrzavý, Staeger and Teschner with many lesser known or newly discovered figures. The book includes an anthology of critical texts of the time and essays devoted to Symbolism in literature, theatre and applied art.
