Sava Šumanović's drawings teach us that beauty is not in complexity, but in harmony.

The exhibition "The Origin of Painting - Drawings" was opened in the exhibition space of the Local History Museum in Pljevlja. Sava Šumanović", dedicated to one of the most important Serbian artists of the 20th century.

The exhibition was realized in cooperation with the National Museum of Serbia, on the occasion of International Museum Day, an event organized worldwide under the auspices of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) with the aim of emphasizing the transformative role of museums in contemporary society.

The exhibition brings to the Pljevlja audience a more intimate and lesser-known segment of Šumanović's work, his drawing opus, which represents the foundation and starting point of his artistic expression. Although he is known to the wider public for his monumental canvases, it is through his drawings that one can most clearly see his thought and creative process, the certainty of line and the inner peace that permeated his work.

Museum Director, Dejana Drobnjak, she pointed out that this exhibition has special significance for Pljevlja, but also for understanding Šumanović's work from a different angle.

"Šumanović is known to the wider public for his paintings, but his drawing oeuvre reveals a special dimension of his personality. It is through drawing that he expresses his thoughts most directly, without unnecessary embellishments, with clean lines that reflect security and inner peace," said Drobnjak.

She emphasized that nudes occupy a special place in this opus, which are not just a depiction of the human body, but an exploration of form, rhythm, and balance.

"In a time when we often forget to stop and observe, these works point us to exactly that, to quiet contemplation and deeper understanding. They teach us that beauty is not in complexity, but in harmony," Drobnjak pointed out.

The author of the exhibition and curator from the National Museum of Serbia, Dragana Ljubenovic, She introduced the concept of the exhibition to the audience, emphasizing that it is almost the entire collection of Šumanović's drawings kept in this institution.

"Here we have the opportunity to see every drawing by Sava Šumanović that is in the collection of the National Museum of Serbia. At every step, the audience is invited to search for the connection between the drawings and the later oil paintings on canvas."

According to her, for Šumanović, drawing was a space in which he solved all his painting problems before he picked up a brush.

"Thanks to the drawing, he completely set up the composition, even resolving the tonal values. When he moved on to the painting, he then surrendered to the matter and color, because everything else had already been resolved," said Ljubenović.

Particularly interesting is the segment of works created after the artist's return from Paris to Šid.

"While he worked with live models in Paris, there are no more in Šid. Then he uses his Parisian drawings as the basis for new paintings. We can see the same model. First drawn in Paris, and then painted years later in his Šid studio," she added.

She also pointed out the ambient units within the gallery space, where nudes, figure studies and sketches are thematically connected and can be linked to the well-known cycles of Šumanović's painting.

"These reproductions of the paintings that accompany the drawings help the viewer see that connection clearly and see where the painting actually had its origins."

The exhibition was first presented in its entirety in 2022 in Belgrade, and now, adapted to the space of the Pljevlja gallery, it has received a new display and additional context.

President of the Municipal Assembly of Pljevlja, Jovana Tosic, She emphasized the importance of the exhibition for the local community and the cultural life of the city.

"The exhibition "The Origin of Painting" allows us to get closer to the very source of Šumanović's creativity, the drawing that was the foundation of his painting vision. This is an opportunity for our fellow citizens to directly experience a part of the cultural treasure that the National Museum of Serbia has inherited."

She emphasized that events like this encourage new generations to get to know and appreciate the great artistic names and values ​​they left behind.

On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Montenegro, she addressed the attendees Ljubica Kubura, which, in addition to words of gratitude to the organizers, also reminded of the tragic fate of the artist and the strength of his work that outlasts time.

"Sava Šumanović's life was quiet and withdrawn, but his works speak loudly today, in front of thousands of visitors. The art he created transcended time and space," said Kubura.