Works

In Jakov Bratanić's works, the symbol is not just a layer over the motif — it is the fundamental structure through which nature, space, and spirituality are called forth. This Croatian classic, born in 1912 on Hvar, formed his artistic language at the intersection of Mediterranean landscape, island vedute, and sacred motifs, which he gradually reduces to signs and surfaces. His paintings reveal recognizable houses, roofs, and church silhouettes, which the artist then transforms into rhythmic structures of colors and surfaces. In this process of reduction, visual elements retain their symbolic power, while the painting itself becomes a meditation on space, duration, and the spiritual dimension of the landscape. Bratanić's approach uniquely combines tradition and modernity: starting from intimate knowledge of the island space, he arrives at a universal artistic expression that transcends geographical limitations. His compositions invite the viewer to contemplation — to recognition of their own experiences in the rhythms of colors and shapes.