Máj

Máj (Czech for the month May) is a romantic poem by Karel Hynek Mácha in four cantos. It was fiercely criticized when first published, but since then has gained the status of one of the most prominent works of Czech literature.

Míla initially regarded the literary work as dark. She even considered giving up on illustrating it altogether, but then she re-evaluated her decision and now views the poem differently. She no longer sees the poem’s central theme in the protagonist’s death but rather in the great miracle of life. Above all, the book radiates light and stands as a celebration of life against the backdrop of death. Love, sexuality, and the danger of death are symbols that the author has encoded in her work.

The book was published by Odeon, Prague in 2023.

Original artworks