September 13, 1947 – The Celje academic painter Albert Sirk, a sea painter from Celje, born on May 26, 1887 in Sv. Križ near Trieste, died.
"A face open, as vibrant as the sea,
With shoulders as broad as a rock, he is a maestro,
His life is literally varied,
Look at him, admit what a scoundrel he is!”

(This is how Albert Sirko was described by Meta Rainer. They met in Zaječar in 1941, where exiled Slovenes organized a common kitchen.)

Jožinov Berto, as he was known locally in his native village of Sv. Križ pri Trieste, was born on May 26, 1887. In 1929, with a heavy heart, he left his beloved places, which remained, with their life and environment, the focal point of his further life and work. In Slovenian painting, we hardly know of an example of such an inner connection between an artist and his birthplace. He was a true painter of the sea, sailors and fishermen. In his works, he combined the sunny serenity of the sea and the Karst toughness of his homestead. When he fled to Slovenia from the growing fascism, he initially worked at Sv. Lenart in Slovenske gorice and only spent the last ten years in Celje, where he taught drawing at the Celje gymnasium and soon became one of the central artistic figures in Celje. He matured and developed into a painter of his own. Although some beautiful sunny green veduta were created during this time, he remained faithful to the sea. With his seaside friends, the “Dalmatian Robinsons”, he planned his annual trips to Dalmatia and Macedonia, where he sought inspiration and painted tirelessly. Into the sensitive paintings of the sea, full of mood and richness of colors, he put all his romantic longing for the world of his youth. With intense observation, he experienced the atmosphere of a calm morning, a hot noon and a stormy afternoon. His works radiate a wealth of colors, which he applied eagerly and boldly. When he created spontaneously, his best works were created. We also know him as an illustrator, caricaturist and draftsman. Albert Sirk died on September 13, 1947 and is buried in the Celje city cemetery.

Contribution prepared by Branko Goropevšek

Taken from the brochure for the exhibition prepared by Tatjana Kač at the Celje Central Library in 1992.

We also recommend:

Kirn, A., Mariner Albert Sirk: diploma thesis / Alenka Kirn. – Ljubljana, 2006.

Albert Sirk, edited by Alina Carli with the assistance of Giulia Giorgi, Trieste: Založništvo tržaškeg tiska, 2015.

Celje academic painter Albert Sirk (26. 5. 1887- 13. 9. 1947)

Held by: Celje Central Library (Photograph of the original, kept by F. Štolfa.)

Celje in winter (Celje), 1938

Store: Joint-stock company, Gorizia