Czóbel Lappang..... 

Bela Czobel created this portrait with charcoal, a humble material, yet capable of great expressiveness. The magic of charcoal lies in its simplicity. It's essentially burnt wood, a material that speaks to primal connection and the element of fire, one of the earliest forms of making. The artist has used charcoal in expressive strokes, varying the pressure to create a range of tones from soft grays to intense blacks. See how the bold, dark lines define the figure’s cap and facial features, while lighter, smudged areas create depth and shadow. Charcoal drawings have a directness, a sense of immediacy, very different from the protracted labor of oil painting. The artist's hand is evident in the marks left on the paper, capturing a fleeting moment or emotion. Czobel coaxes volume, light, and shadow from the basic stuff of burnt wood and paper. By valuing materials, making, and context, we broaden our understanding of art history and the creative process.