Czóbel Béla Női Portré 1974, Szén Papr, 30.5x21cm 1974

In Bela Czobel's 1974 charcoal drawing, a woman's profile emerges, rendered with a striking economy of line on paper. The brown paper showing through the shading, is an integral part of the artwork. The lines, sometimes softly blurred, sometimes sharply defined, capture not just a likeness, but a mood. Notice how the stark contrast between light and shadow models the subject’s brow and the soft curve of the neck, creating a sense of depth and volume. These formal decisions are far from arbitrary, and point to Czobel’s broader artistic project. Czobel destabilizes conventional portraiture through these visible charcoal strokes, reminding us that we're looking at a constructed image rather than an objective representation. The rough texture, the deliberate smudging, and the strategic deployment of negative space transform what could be a mere portrait into an exploration of the medium itself. The artist challenges our expectations by exposing the raw materials and processes that underpin the artwork.