The Mánes Union of Fine Arts (in Czech, Spolek výtvarných umělců Mánes or S.V.U. Mánes) was a modern-arts organization founded in 1887 in Prague, named after painter Josef Mánes. The Mánes Union was significant for its international exhibitions before and after World War I, which encouraged interaction between Czech artists and the foreign avant-garde, for its membership, and for its role in the development of Czech Cubism and Rondocubism. Between 1928 and 1930, the Union built a functionalist complex with a restaurant, club, showroom and offices at the site of the Štítkovský Mill and water tower on the Vltava, originally built in the twelfth century. The 1928 architect was member Otakar Novotný. The union was liquidated under the Communists and was revived after the Velvet Revolution in 1990. Headquarters of the organization is now the Diamond House in Prague, itself a landmark of cubist architecture.
Members
- Mikoláš Aleš, painter
- František Bílek , sculptor
- Josef Čapek, painter and writer
- Josef Chochol, architect
- Emil Filla, painter and sculptor
- Josef Gočár, architect
- Otto Gutfreund sculptor
- Pavel Janák, architect
- Jan Kotěra, architect
- Otakar Novotný, architect
- Jože Plečnik, architect
- Karel Svolinský, painter
- Max Švabinský, painter
- Jan Švankmajer, animator
