Hakija Kulenović, Musician (Andolija), 1932, oil on canvas, 72 x 60 cm, inv. br. 93 © National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina⁠

Hakija Kulenović

(Bosanski Petrovac, BiH, 1905 – Sarajevo, BiH, 1987)

After completing three years of high school in Bihać, he finished his fourth year in Prva gimnazija in the class of Todor Švrakić (1922/23). He studied painting in the atelier of Jovan Bijelić (1923-1924) and later graduated from the School of Arts in Belgrade in 1928. Hakija continued his studies at the Scandinavian Academy (Académie scandinave) in Paris where he stayed until November 1928.⁠ The main theme of his painting is landscape, although he painted figures with Expressionist touch. However, when painting landscapes, he was realist, trying to bring landscapes and atmosphere with colors. His retrospective exhibition was made in Sarajevo in 1965.
One of the most famous paintings by Hakija Kulenović is a portrait of a musician Andolija, painted in spring 1932. Vasa Stanković Andolija⁠ (1852-1934) was a well known violinist and singer from Šabac and during the year 1907 he recorded six records in Sarajevo.