It's an unofficial celebration of this globally popular delicacy, whether it's served on its own or as part of a variety of dishes. Social gatherings are held during which participants create and consume a variety of bacon dishes. Sometimes even whole menus are created from products containing bacon – from appetizers and main courses to desserts.

Traditional bacon is the name for salted or smoked pork lard coming from the belly of the pig, i.e. most often from the pork loin or flank without bone and skin, when strips of lard and meat alternate in the cut. It is made by curing it in salt for several weeks and eventually decanting it, giving it a characteristic salty taste and a strong smoky aroma.

Bacon has a long history and has been an important part of the diet in many cultures. Its origin goes back thousands of years, when the process of salting meat for its preservation was first recorded. Today, bacon is popular due to the variety of ways to prepare it. It can be fried, baked, grilled or even boiled or dried. Each of these cooking methods gives bacon a unique flavor and texture. It is especially popular in Western cuisine, where it is usually served as part of breakfast, but it has also become a basic ingredient in many dishes.

To celebrate this culinary delicacy, we selected a thematically related watercolor by František Hoplíček from 1920, called Pig slaughter, from the OGV collections. This important Moravian painter, graphic artist and great sportsman (23/04/1890 Zvole near Zábřeh – 13/04/1946 Olomouc) studied at the Prague Academy in the years 1907–1912 with professors Vlaho Bukovac and Rudolf Ottenfeld and then received further art education during study stays in Vienna and Antwerp. He then settled permanently in Olomouc, where he got married in 1920, ran a private painting school here (since 1928) and devoted himself to the organization of cultural life in the city. He was a member of the Association of Moravian Artists in Hodonín (since 1914) and a founding member of the Friends of Art Club in Olomouc.

It is interesting that, in addition to his artistic talent, he was also a gifted and successful athlete. Already during his studies in Prague, he competed for the Prague sports club Slávii, where, in addition to ice hockey, he was actively involved in athletics, especially throwing disciplines. He was the first Czech javelin thrower to break the 40-meter mark and held the Czech record for 13 years with a performance of 12.18 m in the shot put. He even represented Czechoslovakia in the javelin throw in 1920 at the VII. Olympic Games.

As a painter, he mainly devoted himself to figure and portrait painting, in his landscape work he preferred rustic themes, especially various rural works. He drew his subjects from the landscape of his beloved Haná, painted portraits of its people, captured the beauty of costumes and crafts. His great creative inspiration was also the sports environment, in addition to paintings with a sports theme, he also created designs for sports diplomas and his work in the field of applied graphics was extensive.

Jana Bojanovská, September 7, 2024