The Multifaceted Life of Emil Artur Longen
Born Emil Václav František Pitterman, the man known as Emil Artur Longen was a Czech playwright, director, actor, screenwriter, and painter. His artistic journey began in the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague, where he studied under Franz Thiele. In 1907, he was involved in the founding of the artists' association, Osma. While his creative pursuits extended into the realms of theatre and cabaret, he also made significant contributions to the early stages of Czech cinema, co-authoring and starring in comedies, and later directing films such as Rudi sportsman. His theatrical career included owning cabarets like Bum and Revoluční scéna, and working as an actor and dramaturge at the Vlasta Burian Theatre.
Artistic Style and Personal History
In his visual work, Longen was initially drawn to Post-Impressionism and Expressionism, while also being influenced by Cubism. Beyond his paintings, he produced various illustrations and caricatures for periodicals. His life was marked by a Bohemian lifestyle and a temperament that led to significant personal debts, which eventually meant his paintings served as a means to help pay those obligations. His personal life was complex, involving a marriage to the actress Xena Marková—whose life inspired his biographical novel Herečka—and a subsequent marriage to Maria Uhlířová. He passed away in Benešov Hospital.
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