Giuseppe Arcimboldi – prekursor twórczości filmowej Jana Švankmajera

Artistic output of Jan Švankmajer, the Czech surrealist and author of object animations, was from its very beginning closely related to the painting and collecting activities of Giuseppe Arcimboldo – one of the most intriguing personalities of the 16th century Habsburg court, and the Emperor Rudolf II of the Prague’s Hradčany court in particular. The author of the article is primarily interested in the conceptual dimension of the painting works by the forerunner of Mannerism known for his concept of the object-subject (and micro-macrocosmic) harmony expressed in the idea of the universal dialogue. According to the Czech surrealist reinterpreting the achievements of his predecessor, such perception of the dialogue supersedes both contemporary aggressive conflict resulting in degradation of humanity and the destruction of the rudimentary dimension of the relation between a human being and the surrounding world.