Josef Lada, Czech painter and illustrator (died 1957)

Josef Lada was a Czech painter, illustrator, cartoonist and writer. Pioneer of the Czech comicbook tradition and founder of the “Czech modern fairytale” genre. He is considered one of the greatest Czech artists of all times – which is also what the world-famous Pablo Picasso had claimed him to be. He is best known for his children’s books and he is best known as the illustrator of Jaroslav Hašek's World War I novel The Good Soldier Švejk,. He’s an author of over 15000 illustrations and more than 600 paintings. The main themes and motives of his work include the following; home village Hrusice, water goblins and sprites, night watchmen, pub fights and the traditional pig-slaughter.