Bela Czobel, Table and Books 1962 

Bela Czobel created this painting, Table and Books, in 1962, using oil on canvas. It’s a classic combination, but there’s nothing conventional about the way he’s handled the materials. Czobel has used the oil paint in a very physical way. Look closely, and you’ll see how thickly it’s applied, almost like frosting. This impasto technique gives the painting a tactile quality, a real sense of depth and texture. The way the paint is layered also adds to the overall vibrancy of the colors, making the composition almost pulsate with energy. You can also sense the artist’s hand in every brushstroke. He’s not trying to hide the process of creation, but rather emphasize it. This approach aligns Czobel with a lineage of painters who valued the direct, expressive potential of their medium, connecting the act of painting with the artist's own physical labor. Ultimately, this emphasis on materials and making challenges traditional notions of fine art, inviting us to appreciate the skill and effort that goes into creating even a seemingly simple image.