Lot Essay
Immigrating from Czechoslovakia to New York in 1907, Jan Matulka quickly became a member of the American Modernist scene, studying at the National Academy of Design. In the 1920s he began to divide his time between New York and Paris, building relationships with Gertrude Stein and her circle. He also formed a notable friendship with Stuart Davis, and the two often spent time together in Gloucester. In later years, Matulka taught at the Art Students League in New York with students including Burgoyne Diller, Francis Criss and David Smith.