The Life and Origins of Josef Šichan

Born on 5 September 1847, Josef Šichan entered a world shaped by the quiet industry of the Podhorská region. He was raised in the village of Černčice, within the Austrian Empire, in a household defined by craftsmanship. His father, Josef Šichan, was a master carpenter, a man whose life was built upon the precise handling of wood and the steady rhythm of manual labor.

The young boy's path eventually led away from the woodworking shop toward formal education. He began his studies at a general school in Nové Město nad Metují, later progressing to a real school in the same town. These early years in Nové Město nad Metují provided the foundation for a life spent observing the world through a different kind of lens. He would eventually find his way into both painting and photography, capturing the likenesses of those around him with a keen eye for detail.

His life was marked by a transition from the rural landscapes of his birth to the more urban settings of his later years. He passed away on 14 December 1918, in Vinohrady, Prague, leaving behind a legacy that bridged the gap between traditional painting and the emerging medium of photography.

Notable Works and Portraits

Much of Šichan's output focused on the faces of the people who shaped his social and religious circles. His early years saw him capturing the likeness of Jana Jiřího Kolára in 1868. As his career progressed, he became a frequent painter of clergy and prominent figures. In 1893, he completed a portrait of arcibiskup Theodora Kohna, and that same year, he turned his attention to kanoník Pötting. These works reflect a man deeply embedded in the institutional life of his time, documenting the individuals who held authority and influence.

His ability to capture character extended to various members of the community, including a portrait of Vincence Brandl. Later in his life, he continued this tradition of portraiture, painting Mikuláš Karlach, the probošt vyšehradské kapituly, in 1903. Beyond these individual studies, he also engaged with religious themes, as seen in his work titled Josef Ladislav Šichan Neposkvrněné početí Branky.

• Portrét Jana Jiřího Kolára (1868)
• Portrét arcibiskupa Theodora Kohna (1893)
• Portrét kanovníka Pöttinga (1893)
• Portrét probošta vyšehradské kapituly Mikuláše Karlacha (1903)