Marking its 230th anniversary, the National Gallery Prague (NGP) has publicly exhibited the painting of Magdaléna Cubrová for the first time after it was recovered from the bottom of the Orlík Dam. General director Olga Kotková unveiled the rare artwork alongside pieces by Egon Schiele and Jan Kaplický during the NGP 230 let Live evening on September 24, 2026, launching a broader public program running through January 3, 2027.
Recovered Painting From Orlík Dam Goes on Public Display
The painting Na okraji jámy (On the Edge of the Pit), created by Magdaléna Cubrová in 1979, is on display at the Veletržní Palace. Radoslav Ištok, curator of the Art Collection after 1945, explained that the artwork gained notoriety in 2006 when the provocative artistic group Rafani requested the piece from the National Gallery under the guise of an exhibition.
Instead of displaying it conventionally, the group sealed the canvas in a waterproof wrapper and sank it to the bottom of the Orlík Dam. According to Ištok, the artists selected a piece from the gallery’s unexhibited depository holdings to spark a public discussion regarding hidden art that remains unseen by regular museum visitors. The current exhibition pairs Cubrová’s recovered canvas with a video recording documenting the Rafani group’s 2006 action.
Rare Egon Schiele Works and Czech Post Stamps
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the gallery introduced Egon Schiele’s iconic drawing Sedící žena s pokrčenými koleny (Edith) (Seated Woman with Bent Knees) from 1917. Olga Kotková noted that the drawing recently served as a primary exhibit at Vienna’s Leopold Museum before returning to Prague. The Schiele drawing also inspired a new series of postage stamps featuring notable NGP collection motifs, issued by Česká pošta and launched during the anniversary event.
Museum visitors have a limited window to view the Edith drawing, as it will be replaced after 14 days by Schiele’s 1914 Vlastní podobizna (Self-Portrait). The celebratory evening also featured a performance by the Lunchmeat festival and marked the official opening of Prague Art Week.
Architectural Interventions and Temporary Installations
The Veletržní Palace features several site-specific installations in its public halls. Architect Jan Kaplický’s suspended object Bublina (The Bubble), originally built for a 1999 exhibition at the palace, hangs in the Small Hall. Bublina remains accessible to the public until September 27 before the space transitions for the upcoming Designblok event, with the object scheduled to return to the palace’s balconies on October 19.
Did You Know?
The National Gallery Prague exhibits only a small fraction of its total holdings at any given time, keeping the vast majority of its artistic inventory secured in specialized depositories.
Additional installations include Vojtěch Kovařík’s monumental painting Zlatý trojúhelník (The Golden Triangle) in the Small Hall through September 29. Furthermore, a temporary installation by Miloš Zet’s studio has been integrated into the socialist realism section of the second-floor exhibition 1939–2021: Konec černobílé doby (The End of the Black-and-White Era).
Frequently Asked Questions
When can visitors see the painting recovered from the Orlík Dam?
Magdaléna Cubrová’s painting is part of the NGP 230th-anniversary interventions currently on display at the Veletržní Palace through January 3, 2027.
How long will Egon Schiele’s drawing of Edith be exhibited?
The drawing Sedící žena s pokrčenými koleny (Edith) is on display for a special 14-day period before being replaced by Schiele’s 1914 self-portrait.
Where is Jan Kaplický’s object Bublina located?
The suspended object is located in the Small Hall of the Veletržní Palace, though its viewing schedule is adjusted around the upcoming Designblok exhibition in late September and October.
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