Dževad Hozo’s Artwork Becomes Part of the Art Collection of the Museum of Sarajevo
The Art Collection of the Museum of Sarajevo, which today comprises more than 1,200 works of art, has been enriched by an exceptionally valuable work created by one of the most significant Bosnian-Herzegovinian and European artists of the second half of the twentieth century – Dževad Hozo.
The artwork in question is Murat, painted in 1992 in a mixed-media technique/oil on canvas, measuring 120 x 130 cm. This piece occupies a special place within Hozo’s oeuvre, not only because of the period in which it was created, but also due to its powerful expression, layered symbolism, and emotional intensity, bearing witness to one of the most difficult periods in the history of Sarajevo.
The acquisition of this work into the Museum of Sarajevo’s collection is an event of exceptional importance. Dževad Hozo stands among the foremost figures of Bosnian-Herzegovinian and former Yugoslav fine arts. As the founder and one of the most distinguished representatives of the renowned Sarajevo School of Printmaking, and as a master of drawing, printmaking, and painting, he left a lasting mark on European academic artistic currents. Today, his name occupies an important place in the history of contemporary art, while his works are held in numerous public and private collections.
Particular significance is attached to Hozo’s artistic and human legacy through his decision to spend the war years in besieged Sarajevo. Although he had opportunities to leave, he chose to remain with his city, convinced that an artist should not abandon the place to which he belongs. “My doorstep is my best shield,” he used to say. It was during this period that he created his landmark cycles 40 Graphic Prints and One Thousand and One Nights, presented in an unforgettable exhibition at the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, remembered as one of the most important cultural events of post-war Sarajevo.
The painting Murat was acquired by the Museum of Sarajevo from the artist’s son and heir, Harun Hozo, at a symbolic price. This act represents far more than the acquisition of a single artwork. It is an expression of trust in an institution that will permanently preserve, study, and present the work to the public, while also contributing to the preservation of the memory of one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s greatest artists.
With the inclusion of Murat in the Museum of Sarajevo’s holdings, the Art Collection gains a new masterpiece, while Sarajevo gains yet another place where future generations will be able to encounter the artistic greatness of Dževad Hozo – an artist whose creativity, knowledge, and moral steadfastness transcended the boundaries of time and space.
The Museum of Sarajevo preserves the memory of our distinguished artists and eminent historical figures.
