Vityaz (Knight) 

Ivan Mrkvička's drawing depicts a scene dominated by potent symbols of power and sacrifice. The enthroned figure represents authority, evoking images of ancient rulers, while the bull about to be sacrificed carries echoes of the classical world, particularly the Mithraic mysteries where the tauroctony held profound spiritual significance. Consider the recurring motif of sacrifice throughout history. The act of killing the bull, present here, resurfaces in different guises across cultures, from the Bible to contemporary performance art, each time renegotiating themes of death, rebirth, and divine appeasement. The bull sacrifice engages viewers on a visceral level, tapping into primal fears and hopes. The ritual's capacity to evoke intense emotional states, like dread and catharsis, reveals the subconscious influence of collective memory. The image of sacrifice continues its non-linear journey, evolving in meaning yet perpetually linked to its ancient roots.