In 1947, the first insemination station for thoroughbred bulls in what was the Czechoslovak Republic was founded in Osík, a village located 4 kilometres south-west of Litomyšl. The tradition of breeding bulls continues here today. In 1987, an aluminium sculpture entitled Bull by the sculptor František Janda was unveiled before the building of the station which is located in the centre of the village near the main road.
In spite of originating from Northern Bohemia, František Janda spent almost his entire professional life in Osík, the native village of his wife, the graphic designer and painter Ludmila Jandová, née Kalibánová. In his sculpture work he uses materials such as wood, stone and glass, but also metal. Metal elements were at the centre of his attention as they are cheaply available and posses an interesting structure. He created small and large-scale sculptures by utilizing old ploughshares, axles and chains or applying forging techniques. He chose aluminium for his Bull, a material which gives the sculpture a smooth, shiny finish.
Currently, there are known to be three models of this sculpture. Studies which were never carried out in reality include the roughly hewn figure of a bull leaping through a smooth metal ring, and two bulls standing head to head. The model that was eventually carried out excels over the others with its monumental appearance. The stylized figure of the bull, expressed in elementary form, symbolizes the strength and well-being of this animal. The sculpture thus does not only commemorate the founding of the insemination station but also serves as an advertisement for it.
In his freelance work, František Janda turned to themes dealing with the fundamentals of humanity – for example Myslitel (Thinker, 1967) or Prometheus (1967). He also created non-figurative artwork taking its cues from the organic world of nature (e.g. Lusk / Husk, from the cycle Rostliny a lidé / Plants and People, 1988). Typical features of his public artwork are figurative or abstract topics. With its monumental compactness and simplicity of form, the sculpture Bull differs from the abovementioned artwork.
