Nikola Arsenović (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Арсеновић, IPA: [nǐkola ǎrsɛːnɔʋit͡ɕ], 1823 – July 18, 1887) is a Serb designer and illustrator of folk costume; being posthumously dubbed a "Yugoslav ethnographer". A tailor by profession, he started illustrating peasant clothing while traveling the lands after having left his family and shop due to unknown reasons. The Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade acquired most of his work, the rest having been bought by various painters.

Nikola Arsenović
Self-portrait
Born1823
DiedJuly 18, 1887 (aged 64–65)
CitizenshipAustrian, Serbian
Occupation(s)tailor, illustrator
Known forEthnography of Yugoslavia

Life edit

He was born in Retfala, near Osijek, in 1823,[1] the area being part of the Kingdom of Slavonia of the Austrian Empire (now part of Croatia).

He finished primary school in Osijek, and then decided to become a tailor.[2] As a youngster, he travelled to Pest and Vienna, to perfect the craft, and also further to Paris and in Germany.[2] He was away for 7 years, then returned, settling in Vukovar, where he married and opened a large tailor shop with eight workers.[2] Apart from peasant (or "national") clothing, he also tailored for military officers, clergy and citizens.[2]

He died in Belgrade, on July 18, 1887.[1] He was a Yugoslavist, and called himself a Yugoslav.[citation needed]

Work edit

  • Nikola Arsenović (1930). Југословенска народна ношња. Етнографски музеј у Београду.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Gavrilović 2004, p. 37
  2. ^ a b c d Gavrilović 2004, p. 38

Further reading edit

External links edit