Pavle Paja Jovanovic is one of the most famous Serbian painters and typical representative of academic realism.
He was born in Vrsac, on June 16th 1859. Very early he showed tendency for drawing and painting. So, Paja started to draw secretly first, copying old church paintings and spending hours in empty church which he took for his first teacher. In time when the church community in Vrsac decided to order new bells for the Cathedral Church, and when there appeared a need for paintings of saints, everybody found out about his talent. When he was fourteen years old, he got his first order. Paja spent much time traveling where he found inspiration for his work. Full of impressions, after he got back, he painted many genre paintings: Wounded Monte Negro Man, Fence, Fiddle, Decorating the Bride, Ambush, Arnaut with Pipe, Traitor, Blood Fatigue, Rooster Fight.
Serbia was very proud with their young and famous artist. Almost each house had some of his oleograph or other reproduction with topic from Serbian history or life.
Painting women for Paja always meant painting beauty. He stayed faithful to himself and his life wisdom ''It is attainment to find the beauty''.
Among his many pieces we can mention: Migration of the Serbs, Triptych of Vrsac, Haymaking, Harvest, Market, Furor Teutonicus (Teuton rage) or Battle in Teutoburgh Woods...
Paja Jovanovic died in November 30th 1957 in Vienna. His urn with ashes was transferred and laid to rest forever in beloved Belgrade, just as he wished.
Graphic realization: Nikola Zaklan,
Final graphical processing: Dosenovic Bozidar i Nebojsa Djumic
PRINTING HOUSE: POSTE SRPSKE a.d.
