30/June/45
Dear Mr. Chalupecký,
They took away Rykr’s paintings today. Thank you very much for arranging it. It was my long-held desire that they be stored in a proper place with professional care. There are also drawings, sketchpads and printing plates. Though I will miss not being able to “switch” a painting, I’m truly happy that this was done. In looking at all the paintings again, it occurred to me that it’s probably a collection that represents one of the last painters (certainly the last in our country) of a certain epoch, bring an end to

“panel painting”. Don’t believe me? I’m convinced – about the cyclical end of the whole cultural epoch that began with the Renaissance and ends with us. Fine art is the first of the artistic disciplines to come to a close; then music and, lastly, literature. Architecture first began to sprout new shoots since the material conditions were and are best for it.
I don’t think there will be a boom in sculpture, painting, music and literature (the novel), anytime soon, at least not in the sense that past centuries have experienced them. But back to Rykr. I often think that my aforementioned reasons (aesthetically developmental) were one of the “metaphysical” reasons

for his departure. It is fitting that he had the theory that every artist died at the right time, or rather that none died prematurely. But I didn’t want to write about all that. Just that I was again fascinated by the high qualities of Rykr’s work. I recalled that you had spoken about his rehabilitation. I wish it would be an exhibition that you would do as well, but not with someone like Poche. I would like to see it organized by the Modern Gallery, or by Mánes, so that it were truly “representative” in technical aspects. You know, Rykr clashed with his exhibitions all his life. So I’d like for him to once truly be “with all the frills”. I’d also like for you to tell people what they should think of it. There is so much fuss these days

over Hora because he died, but as for Rykr – not even his death helped him. I’m not sentimental, but when I look at Rykr’s paintings, I’m always amazed and stand in wonder of the great injustice of our culture towards him.
But I repeat: I did not want to write about all this, certainly not for two pages; I really wanted just to thank you for the great service you did Rykr by arranging for his paintings and drawings to be kept in a dignified manner to await his resurrection. Thank you very much again. Yours -

M. Součková

I am sending you one timeless poem – just out of friendship.