Little Blessings, 30” x 40”, oil on canvas
Henrietta Milan — In the Tradition of the Masters By JAMIE ELLIN FORBES
T
he painted reflections rendered on canvas by Henrietta Milan are a clean song of nature attesting to the majesty of the subject and the mastery of the artist. Focusing on placid landscapes, riproaring florals and demure portraiture, she works in the tradition of Monet, Matisse and Renoir with a style all her own. Lushly applied by palette knife, Milan’s beyond-vivid colors bring a delicate power to her work, enhancing the imagery with a dimensionality that seems to take flight. This energetic passion emanates from one whose entire life has been an organic blending of sport and art, exemplifying a commitment to the cause of Sokol, whose traditions she celebrates every time she steps up to the canvas. 20 • Fine Art Magazine • Fall 2009
Sokol is a Czech word for the high flying Falcon, a species in which the characteristics of bravery, courage, heroism and strength are inherent and quite evident to all who come
into contact with most of these hawks, who can be ferocious predators. Sokol, which originated in Prague in 1862, was initially a gymnastic society to develop strength, litheness, alertness, and courage in its practitioners. “Simply put,” states Henrietta, “it means ‘strong mind-strong body.’ ” Milan’s paintings embrace Sokol in that they possess many of the intricacies of her chosen sport — “balance, a lot of motion, and action — the combination of gymnastics and art.” Banned during the Nazi occupation, the movement was revived in 1945 but proscribed again in 1948 by communist leaders because of its identification with Czech nationalism. It was later reborn after the decline of communist influence in the early 1990s. A great Sokol tradition emphasized mass calisthenics as a means of promoting communal spirit and