In our Gallery, we present several previously unpublished photographs of the family, neighbours, and ancestral home of Nikola Graovac, together with his signature and several photographs of his paintings. The family photographs, taken by Nikola Graovac himself with his camera, have been preserved by Nikola Cetina.
A Brief Biography of Nikola Graovac
The painter Nikola Graovac was born in 1907 in Vrebac, the fourteenth and youngest child of a poor family. He completed primary school in his native village, but, lacking the means to continue his education, he set out on foot for Belgrade. There he earned his living through strenuous manual labour, sending part of his wages back to support his family in Vrebac.
Gifted with exceptional artistic talent, Graovac saved enough money to attend an art school. He went on to become one of the foremost masters of colourist Expressionism in Serbian painting.
His humanitarian work was equally noteworthy. He bequeathed a rich legacy of 35 paintings and numerous works of applied art to the King Peter Endowment at Oplenac.
Graovac frequently returned to his native Vrebac, where he used his camera to immortalize his family, relatives, and neighbours.