Lujza and Karlo Mijić occupy a distinguished place in Bosnian and Herzegovinian art history of the first half of the 20th century. They are among the rare group of formally educated painters (especially when it comes to female painters) of that era. Their academic education and training took place in Vienna, Prague, and Munich. Upon completing their education, they became active participants in the cultural life of interwar Sarajevo, where they produced their most significant works of art. Although their shared life spanned over four decades, their joint artistic journey was considerably shorter. Despite her remarkable skill and artistic quality, Lujza abandoned her painting career early to focus on family life. Karlo, however, remained dedicated to painting until the end of his life, though to a much lesser extent after leaving Sarajevo.

While primarily painters by education, both artists also excelled in drawing, with Karlo making notable achievements in printmaking. Thematically, they were most devoted to landscapes and portraits, often successfully merging the portrait with the grandeur of the landscape, and thus personalizing the landscape motifs. Their paintings are characterized by a color palette in which they harmonize contrasts and successfully balance different artistic forms.

Lujza’s relatively small body of work clearly showcases her extraordinary talent, making the abrupt and premature end of her artistic career all the more poignant. In contrast, Karlo’s extensive contributions to art solidified his important position in the history of Bosnian and Herzegovinian painting, with some of the most significant works within the fields of our expressionism and magical realism.