Young wife keeping apples 1934

István Nagy made "Young Wife Keeping Apples" with what looks like pastels. The ochre headscarf and plate of apples are so luminous, they nearly lift off the black ground. I wonder if he started with the dark background first, or if he added it later, pushing the figure forward. I can almost feel him smudging and blending the colours with his fingers, building up the form gradually. I bet Nagy had a strong sense of empathy, and this painting feels very personal to me. The artist is not just painting a figure but also capturing something deeper—a quiet moment of reflection, the dignity of labor, the simple beauty of everyday life. I think there is a quietness in the image which reminds me of the work of Paula Modersohn-Becker. These artists, across time and place, inspire each other in their humanity. Painting is like that, it can be many things, as long as the feeling comes through.