Hum (Jan 2014)
Role of Krleža’s essay on Zadar goldsmithing in creating cultural and national identity of Zadar after the Second World War
Abstract
The paper analyzes essay written by Miroslav Krleža and dedicated to Zadar medieval art The Gold and Silver of Zadar and its influence on creating identity image of the city after the Second World War. Author’s modern, still utopian attitude to national history and creating the national identity on the foundations of centuries long cultural heritage is reflected in Krleža’s essays. He approaches medieval art in the avantgarde way finding in the filigree art designs of Zadar goldsmithing the message of rebellion and self-consciousness of the Croatian culture in the context European civilizations. Spending his time among Zadar ruins right after the Second World War Krleža created in his “gold” the image of the new city identity, image of the finally free and Croatian/ Slavic Zadar.
