The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem 1905

Tivadar Kosztka Csontvary painted 'The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem' using oil on canvas to create an uncanny vision. The work is dominated by a high-key palette of soft greens and browns, structured by a towering minaret that rises dramatically against the sky. The buildings are rendered in simplified geometric forms, casting stark shadows that flatten the space. This architectural arrangement, along with the stylized landscape, evoke a dream-like atmosphere. Csontvary uses a disjunctive approach to perspective, blending near and far elements in a way that defies natural depth. The birds in the foreground are brought to the same plane as the distant hills, suggesting an attempt to unify disparate elements. The artist may have been seeking to integrate personal vision with universal themes. Ultimately, the formal tensions within this painting invite us to consider how Csontvary's unique handling of form and space serves as a symbolic language, open to interpretation.