Viktor IV: A Biography

Viktor, an expatriate American, was a fascinating 20th Century artist who produced an estimated 700 "ikons" of boat hatches and driftwood floating on the Amstel River in Amsterdam, and more than 5000 "logbook" pages of dated, numbered drawings and phrases in his varied inventory. Viktor's opus has been honored by museums and by art observers around the world who own many of his works. He started life as a photographer and prankster in New York and the University of Florida, where he was a friend of the author, David L. Levy. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy Viktor changed to the permanence of art. Viktor led an interesting life that attracted tour boat operators and tourists to see this maritime Santa Claus with the great white beard on his houseboat and rafts with chickens and rabbits in the Amstel River. In this retrospective, Viktor's friend, David L. Levy shares insights, selected works of Viktor, and shares why these works have been called "minor masterpieces."