Ex libris van György László 1895 - 1936

Kornél Révész made this ‘Ex libris van György László’ sometime before 1944, using an etching technique. Look at the lines; they create depth and shadow without relying on a full range of tones. The etching feels almost architectural, doesn't it? The way the figure is pushing against the pillar; there’s something about the push and pull, the tension, that gets me thinking about artmaking itself. How much force is needed to leave a mark, to communicate? The justice figure perched on top is a nice detail. I’m reminded of Piranesi’s etchings of imaginary prisons - there's a similar weightiness to the lines and a sense of being caught in a symbolic space. Ultimately, the beauty of a piece like this lies in its layers of interpretation. There's no one way to read it.