Ester M. Šimerová / M. Martinček – Painter and Photographer: Art Through Two Perspectives

Ester Martinčeková-Šimerová

Ester Martinčeková-Šimerová honed her craft in Paris, the cradle of global modernism, a formative experience that left an indelible mark on her art. Through several years of direct engagement with the French art scene, she acquired insights that were far from typical among her Slovak contemporaries. The foundations of her artistic expression are rooted in the principles she absorbed from her education in France. Profoundly influenced by Cubism, she developed a distinctive visual language characterised by constant evolution. Through her unique approach to subjects—primarily nature—her paintings achieved a multidimensional depth. Her work embodies an unrelenting pursuit of originality. While her primary focus was painting, she later explored collage and the creation of objects she termed cameos. Additionally, she also designed monumental works, such as the ceiling decorations of the Music Hall at Bratislava Castle, executed by Ján Matejko.

Martin Martinček

Photography was an early passion for Martin Martinček, yet his professional path initially led him elsewhere. Trained as a lawyer, he began his career in advocacy and the judiciary. He was instrumental in establishing the Ministries of Justice and Finance and, in 1946, served as the head of the Presidium of the Slovak National Council in Bratislava. His life took a tragic turn in 1945 when an automobile accident claimed the lives of his wife, two sons, and father. In 1947, he remarried the painter Ester Šimerová. Following the events of February 1948, Martinček was briefly imprisoned and, in 1951, was forced to leave Bratislava. He and his wife relocated to the Liptov region. During this period, Martin Martinček rekindled his youthful passion for photography. He roamed the Liptov landscape, seeking to capture overlooked realities. Initially, he was drawn to natural elements and their textures. In 1961, he became a freelance artist. His work evolved from random documentation to systematic practice. He captured the Liptov landscape, natural phenomena, and rural life, with its joys, struggles, and surroundings in his photographs. His legacy lies in his profound understanding of his subjects and his ability to illuminate the overlooked.

Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council.