Still Life with Apples 

This painting titled, Still Life with Apples, was made by Kmetty János, though we don't have a precise date for it. János was a Hungarian painter who lived through both World Wars and the rise of communism. Looking at this painting, we see a rejection of academic artistic traditions. Its visual codes reject a precise depiction of reality in favor of an expressionistic and abstract use of colour and form. János was associated with a group of Hungarian artists called the European School. This institution embraced modernism in opposition to the state-supported artistic conservatism of the era. Although seemingly apolitical, paintings like these represent a progressive challenge to the cultural status quo. It helps us to understand how artistic production is always shaped by wider social forces. Understanding the way institutions shape artists' work and the implicit politics of imagery is the key to unlocking artworks like this.