At the End

1966
oil/glass
280 x 355 mm
signature: down in the right corner: Dragan Gaži / 1966

Dead father's head in a very expressionist colors that emerge from the blackness of the background. Dragan Gazi represents the 2nd generation of the Hlebine Art School. He continues the realistic tendency and extremely psychological portraits.

Dragan Gaži was born on July 5 in Hlebine. He is a part of the second generation of Hlebine Art School. He was born in a peasant family. He attended primary school in Hlebine where he completed four grades. His art can be divided into three phases. In the first phase (1946 -1953) he receives instruction from Ivan Generalic and meets Krsto Hegedusic. Line pencil and ink and watercolor works. In 1949 he exhibited for the first time in Zagreb. The second phase (1954 -1966) is the realistic-verismo-expressionist phase. Portraits and scenes from daily life. Paints a little, only in free time and in winter when there is less work on the ground and in the household. In 1954 he got married.He bought his first colors and painted the first image on the glass. In 1961 he has a first exhibition abroad. His first solo exhibition was in 1964 in Zagreb.The third phase started in 1967. There have been changes in the composition and themes. He begins to idealize the scene. He becomes more and more engaged in painting, rather than agriculture. He died on June 26 1983 in Hlebine.

His younger brother Branko was naive sculptor.