Ludmila Janovská

In 1929, she began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. She studied painting under the Czech painter Vratislav Nechleba [cs] (1885–1965). In 1931, her father died suddenly, leaving her to live alone with her mother until her mother's death in 1955. She graduated university in 1935.^[1][4]

After completing her studies, she lived and worked in the Smíchov district of Prague. She primarily painted portraits, flowers, and still lifes.^[1][4][5] She also painted several winter scenes of Prague.^[4]

One of her most highly regarded works is the portrait of Czech actor and director Jaroslav Průcha (1898–1963), titled Jaroslav Průcha režíruje (Jaroslav Průcha Directing), painted in 1953.^[6] Among other notable figures she portrayed were her mother, the Czech equestrian and Olympic competitor František Ventura, and the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů.^[5][7] She also worked in graphic arts, particularly lithography.^[8]

She signed her works as PD L. Janovská, Mila Janovská, L. Janovská, or Ludmila Janovská.^[9]

She began exhibiting in 1938 at the Zlín Salon in Prague.^[1] She was a member of the artists' group Tvorba. After World War II, she participated in numerous exhibitions, particularly shows of contemporary art.^[10][11]

Between 1949 and 1962, she exhibited at exhibitions organized by the Prague Aleš Association (1946–1968), of which she was a member.^[6][7] She was repeatedly elected to the Federal Committee of the Czechoslovak Artists' Association (SČSV) and also served as its delegate.^[6]