Hugo Grygkar
Hugo Grygkar was born on December 9, 1907, in Munich, to a Czech family. His father was a tinsmith and bronze sculptor. From a young age, Hugo frequented his father's workshop.
In 1914, his family left Germany for France, first to Lannion in Brittany, then to the Parisian suburbs. In his youth, Hugo was a diligent artist and a passionate reader who also enjoyed writing. A very discreet and modest personality, he kept his training somewhat mysterious, but he most likely studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and then at the La Ruche studio.
La Ruche, literally "the beehive," was, at the beginning of the 20th century, the meeting place for all the artists of Montparnasse. Chagall, Léger, and Modigliani all stayed there. Grygkar trained there in an extraordinary creative cauldron.
1939: Enlistment and French Nationality
In 1939, he and his father joined the French army by enlisting in a regiment composed of Czech volunteers. A few months later, he was demobilized due to a kidney disease from which he suffered throughout his life.
This commitment earned him French nationality, a decision that definitively anchored this artist of Czech origin in French culture and history. It was the same country that, a few years later, would offer him the opportunity to lay the graphic foundations of the most French object in the world after the baguette and the Eiffel Tower.
The Encounter with Hermès: A Destiny
Hugo Grygkar joined Hermès in 1939 and became the House's first scarf designer. He arrived precisely when Robert Dumas was looking for artists capable of translating the Hermès universe onto silk, two years after the creation of the first scarf in 1937.
He worked for over 20 years in close collaboration with Robert Dumas, director of Hermès, who guided him in the choice of subjects by giving him access to his personal archives as well as those of Émile-Maurice Hermès. Robert Dumas appreciated Hugo Grygkar's talent, but also his modesty and flexibility, as he knew how to adapt to his requirements. The two men also shared mutual respect, attention to detail, and a love of work well done.
More than 100 Scarves: The Most Prolific Artist in Hermès History
Throughout his career at Hermès, Grygkar created more than 100 iconic scarves, each reflecting his unique sense of style and creativity. No other artist in the history of the House has approached this number.
His style is characterized by an innate sense of framing, composition, and color harmony, but also by a rich culture and a very refined humor.
A revealing detail of his personality: he never signed his creations. In a world where an artist's signature is a tool for commercial value, Grygkar chose the opposite, prioritizing the House over the individual. Absolute discretion in service of a total work.
His Most Emblematic Creations
Jeu des Omnibus et Dames Blanches (1937): The first Hermès scarf in history. Grygkar designed it with Robert Dumas based on a 19th-century Parisian board game. It was the starting point for everything.
Ex-Libris (1946): One of the emblematic scarves of the 1940s. The motif depicts Émile-Maurice Hermès' personal ex-libris, a galloping horseman surrounded by the Hermès Paris motto. Reissued several times, it is one of the most recognizable scarves in the House's history.
Brides de Gala (1957): His absolute masterpiece. Two ceremonial bridles face each other in a perfectly symmetrical composition. Reissued in more than 30 versions over 68 years, it is the best-selling scarf in Hermès history. Find its complete story in our article dedicated to Brides de Gala.
Les Plaisirs du Froid (1954): A remarkably light winter scene, reissued several times, including in 1991, and still sought after today on the vintage market.
Minéraux (1959): A daring geological composition on precious stones. An unexpected subject for Hermès that illustrates Grygkar's boundless intellectual curiosity.
La Marine en Bois (1958): 17th-century warships treated with historical precision. Reissued in 2000, it is the perfect example of Grygkar's ability to tackle any subject with the same mastery.
Les Bois de Boulogne (1957): A warm and narrative Parisian promenade scene from the era. One of his most cherished scarves by collectors for its intimate feel.
A Legacy Etched in Silk
Hugo Grygkar worked at Hermès until his death in 1959. In twenty years, he laid the graphic and aesthetic foundations of the Hermès scarf as we know it today: rigor of composition, precision of line, balance between the central motif and the border.
His scarves continue to be reissued regularly by Hermès, proving that his work has achieved that form of timelessness that characterizes great creators. Brides de Gala, created 68 years ago, is still in production. Ex-Libris was reissued in 1996, 2004, and 2007.
On the vintage market, first editions of his scarves, particularly those from the 1940s and 1950s, fetch prices significantly higher than average. A 1940s Grygkar scarf in excellent condition is a collector's item in its own right.
Hugo Grygkar in Figures
Data |
Figure |
|---|---|
Birth |
December 9, 1907, Munich |
Joined Hermès |
1939 |
Death |
1959 |
Number of scarves created |
More than 100 |
Years of collaboration |
20 years |
First scarf |
Jeu des Omnibus et Dames Blanches (1937) |
Most reissued scarf |
Brides de Gala (1957, still in production) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hugo Grygkar? Hugo Grygkar is an artist of Czech origin born in Munich in 1907, considered the father of the Hermès scarf. He joined the House in 1939 and created over 100 scarves in 20 years of collaboration, including Brides de Gala and Jeu des Omnibus et Dames Blanches, the very first Hermès scarf in history.
How many scarves did Hugo Grygkar create for Hermès? Hugo Grygkar created over 100 scarves for Hermès between 1939 and 1959, an absolute record in the House's history that no other artist has approached since.
Did Hugo Grygkar sign his scarves? No. Hugo Grygkar never signed his creations. This is one of the most revealing characteristics of his discreet and modest personality, for whom the House came before the individual.
What is Hugo Grygkar's most famous Hermès scarf? Brides de Gala, created in 1957, is his most famous and reissued work in Hermès history, with more than 30 reinterpretations in 68 years of continuous production.
Are Hugo Grygkar's scarves rare? The first editions from the 1940s-1950s are the rarest and most sought after. Later editions are more accessible as several of his designs have been regularly reissued by Hermès.
When did Hugo Grygkar die? Hugo Grygkar died in 1959, after 20 years of exclusive collaboration with Hermès. He had suffered from kidney disease since his enlistment in the French army in 1939.
