Schertl Vincze 1915

Jozef Hanula made this portrait of Schertl Vincze, maybe in the late 19th century, with oil on canvas. It’s a pretty formal painting of a serious-looking man with a bowler hat and magnificent facial hair. I like to imagine Hanula setting up his easel, mixing his colors, and carefully building up the layers of paint to capture Vincze's likeness. You know, that moment when the artist steps back, squints, and tries to see the person in front of them, not just the surface. What was Vincze like, I wonder? Was he patient? Did he make small talk or sit in contemplative silence? The dark palette gives the painting a somber, old-world feel, but there are also moments where the brushwork becomes more evident, like in the subtle gradations of light on Vincze’s face. It's like Hanula is not just recording Vincze’s appearance, but also trying to capture something of his character, or perhaps even his own feelings about the sitter. I think there's something touching about that. It reminds me of those painterly portraits by Manet, but with a more grounded, Central European sensibility. Ultimately, painting is about having a conversation across time, and I think this painting speaks volumes, even now.