Franti�ek Drtikol (3. 3. 1883 - 13. 1. 1961) - a world-renowned Czech photographer, representative of Decorative Arts in photography. Famous for his photographs of nudes and portraits that resemble more expressive painting.

Franti�ek Drtikol was born in Pribram, where he graduated from high school and then trained as a photographer in the studio Anthony maltase. In the years 1901-1903 he studied at the professional school of photography in Munich. From that time also comes first Drtikol's work, which is stylistically close to his later writing.

His first studio he founded in 1907 in Pribram, after returning from a three-year military service. Already three years later, but settled in Prague, where together with Augustine Skardu member of the Club of Prague photographers, opened his own studio.

Drtikol often experimented with different techniques, such as flexography, oil print or Charcoal, variously subsequently modified the negatives. But later withdrew from the post process and the resulting image is created directly in the studio with lights and props. In addition to portraits and nudes, he also landscape and genre pictures of old Prague. Highly prized by today's file oleographs Z yards and courtyards of old Prague, which he and his �karda in 1911. The portraits of a number of prominent personalities from the arts and politics, among them, for example, TG Masaryk, Edvard Bene� and Josef Suk.
Surprisingly photographic career ended in 1935 and devoted himself to painting and spiritual development.

In his work Drtikol masterfully managed to capture the essence of movement and symbolic objects. In 1945 he joined the Communist Party and its active member remained until his death. He was also a philosopher, a translator of spiritual books and promoter of Buddhism.