Review of the exhibition The Gems of Slovak Modern Painting 1910-1949, Czech Museum of Fine Arts, Prague (Martin Benka, Anton Jasusch, Mikuláš Galanda, Ester Šimerová-Martinčeková ad.), posing a question, how should be the art historical approach to modern art out of the modernist centres. The article takes into account suggestion, proposed by James Elkins.