Proust: Illustration 5. 1979

Maria Bozoky's illustration of Proust employs the fluid spontaneity of watercolor and ink wash on paper. The thinness of the paint allows for layering and blending, which Bozoky uses to great effect in building up tonal depth and creating a sense of volume. The work's material influence is evident in the way the colors bleed and mix, creating soft edges and atmospheric effects. It was made with quick, gestural strokes, allowing the watery medium to dictate the form. This emphasis on process over precision imbues the artwork with a sense of immediacy and emotional expressiveness. Bozoky engages with the tradition of book illustration, a field with its own rich history separate from that of fine art. The work involved embodies a mode of production more akin to craft than to high art, emphasizing the skill and labor required to bring literary visions to life. By prioritizing process and material expression, Bozoky challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.