(Un)Restrained

Iva Despić Simonović is known today as the first trained female sculptor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the daughter-in-law of the Despićes, a prominent and wealthy Sarajevo family.

Other than this, little is known from her interesting and impressive biography, and what is published is often based on unverified sources.

Following her first exhibition (1910), reviews were very positive, emphasizing her competence, talent, and independent performance.

The critics were especially impressed by the portraits of children, which are rarely successful and require a lot of skill and artistic insight.

Kosta Strajnić writes about Iva's works: "Her works are a pure product of artistic instinct that has a personal mark."

"There is no other Croatian sculptor who can better portray a child's soul."

After her marriage in 1920, she moves to Sarajevo. Her new family, but also Sarajevo as environment, limited possibilities for her creativity and talent to fully flourish.

They limited but did not stop her. She worked continuously; not only did she sculpt but she also made bronze casts for her sculptures.

She often visited Belgrade in the years between the two wars. She was a friend and adviser to Queen Marija Karađorđević, who was also engaged in sculpture.

Iva had her own studio in the Palace where she worked on commissioned busts, and a place to live.

She had her first and only solo exhibition at the Officers' Club in Belgrade in November 1927. The exhibition was opened by Iva's friend, writer Isidora Sekulić.

Although modest and unassuming, and, according to her own words, reluctant to exhibit her works, Iva Despić is an active participant in all cultural events in Sarajevo, but also in Yugoslavia.

In the 1930s, she exhibited at the 1st Exhibition of Sarajevo Artists, the 1st Exhibition of the Drina Banovina’s Artists, at the exhibition of the Women's Art Club, at the exhibition of "Little Entente of Women"...

After the Second World War, she participated at the exhibitions of the Association of Fine Artists of BiH until 1953, after which she withdrew from public life.

She spent the rest of her life in Vasin Han near Sarajevo, in a summer house built for her by the Despić family in 1931 where she lived making art and raising her children. She died in 1961.

Iva Despić was one of those women who were accomplished both as artists and mothers, despite the time in which other roles were assigned to women.

Restrained is the name of one of the most famous Iva Despić's sculptures, but it is also known as a Self-portrait.

The critics mention it under that title, alluding to the artist's feeling of restraint by the family and environment.

Contrary to this opinion, it seems that Iva Despić accomplished everything she wanted - she was highly educated, respected, and the accomplished artist.

She traveled, exhibited, made commissioned portraits, lived and worked at the Palace, she participated in women's movements, and besides all this, she was a mother committed to her children.