River of Pilgrims (poster)

"River of Pilgrims" (2014) is a colored pencil drawing by Prague artist Marie Brožová, created live for the public in Sázava Monastery as part of her long-term project The Defense of Colored Pencils. The original artwork is an A0 format measuring 118.9 × 84.1 cm (46.8 × 33.1 inches). Featured in the Souls of Czech Rivers series, this piece was inspired by the Sázava River.

The Story Behind the Art

This piece embodies the Muse of all hikers and wanderers who, with guitars in hand and backpacks on their backs, sought their ideals along the riverbanks—a unique blend of Wild West romance, Native American wisdom, and a vision of freedom. It was a quest for inner freedom, made all the stronger by the lack of liberty under the totalitarian regime. For these wanderers, the romance of the Wild West served as a silent protest against the grey reality of the Iron Curtain.

In the painting, the Sázava Monastery and Český Šternberk Castle are visible in the upper left, while the ruins of Zbořený Kostelec and cabins perched on steep cliffs above the final rapids before Pikovice appear in the upper right. Additionally, boulders by the campsite evoke the Stvořidla rapids, the hair of the Sázava River nymph merges seamlessly with the flowing water, and railway tracks hidden within her hair represent the legendary "Sázava Pacific" railway line.

Hidden Details to Discover

Notice the tiny figures gathered around the campfire on the brim of the hat, and the lone observer watching the sunset from its very peak. And here is a bonus for cat lovers: Can you find the cat paddling in the kayak?

Available as: Fine Art Prints (A4–A0), Gallery-Quality Posters (A2–A0), Greeting Cards, Postcards, Mandala Art Therapy & Meditation Set "Freedom", Souls of Czech Rivers Coloring Book, Inner Balance Oracle Cards.