Bortnyik Sándor, Párizs Lángjai 

Editor: So, this striking painting is called "Paris Flames" by Sándor Bortnyik. Its materials aren't specified but appear to be oils on canvas, and it’s quite an assertive geometric abstraction! I’m really struck by its bold colors and the way it creates this sort of fragmented, dreamlike cityscape. What's your initial take on this artwork? Curator: Well, darling, it whispers to me of revolution, both artistic and maybe societal. The Bauhaus influence practically screams from those geometric shapes – order striving to emerge from chaos. Those figures, almost hieroglyphic, are they marching towards the future, or are they trapped in a deconstructed present? And those suns, are they rising, or setting on an old order? The muted palette adds a layer of sombre reflection, don't you think? Editor: That's fascinating! The idea of it representing a societal revolution hadn't crossed my mind, but I see what you mean. I was just thinking about formal composition. Curator: Ah, but isn't the formal composition a mirror to those deeper anxieties and aspirations? Look how the planes intersect, collide, create tension. Bortnyik wasn't just arranging shapes, he was conducting a visual symphony of unease and hope, using a Constructivist's baton. Editor: I love that – "a visual symphony of unease and hope"! It’s interesting to consider how artists used these visual metaphors in their work. Thanks, I think I get this artwork more now. Curator: It’s a two-way street, really. I always discover a bit more about the work, and myself, through conversations like these!