Josef Kotzian

OSTRAVIAN DESIGNER AND MACHINIST WHOSE PRECISELY-DATED DRAWINGS FORM A MONOCHROMATIC COMPENDIUM OF OTHER-WORLDLY BOTANY. WITH EVERY DRAWING RENDERED IN ASTONISHING DETAIL, IT WAS THE REFINED PRECISION OF EACH PENCIL STROKE WHICH BOLSTERED KOTZIAN’S REPUTATION. HE EVENTUALLY ADOPTED THE PEN-NAME SOLFERINO AND WENT ON TO BECOME A FIGUREHEAD FOR SPIRITUALIST ART, WITH WORKS EXHIBITED INTERNATIONALLY AND A LASTING INFLUENCE ON SUBSEQUENT MEDIUMISTIC ARTMAKERS.