The Old River (print)

"The Old River" (2012) is a colored pencil drawing by Marie Brožová, created live in public in the Karlštejn Castle 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). This piece is featured in the Souls of Czech Rivers series, inspired by the Berounka River.

The Story Behind the Art

In this drawing, the Berounka River comes to life as a wise, grandmotherly pilgrim wandering through the breathtaking landscape of the Bohemian Karst. She carries Karlštejn Castle in her basket, and her walking stick is proudly adorned with tourist badges from the countless beautiful places she embraces along her journey. A ancient trilobite rests gently on her shoulder—a silent keepsake from the region's prehistoric past. Her coat shimmers with rare local insects, including magnificent stag beetles. While children play happily on the riverbank and fishermen wait in quiet, sunlit nooks, King Charles IV watches over the entire river realm from his eternal throne in the heavens.

Hidden Details to Discover

The Berounka is affectionately nicknamed the "Old River" because it lacks a traditional single spring; instead, it is born from the gentle embrace of four rivers merging in Pilsen. Its original name was the Mže, and the current name, Berounka, only captured the public's heart during the Czech National Revival. Beyond history, the title holds a tender personal meaning: the artist’s own grandmother came from Řevnice, a picturesque village with an old-world charm nestled on the banks of this beloved river.

Available as: Fine Art Prints (A4–A0), Gallery-Quality Posters (A2–A0), Greeting Cards, Souls of Czech Rivers Coloring Book.