Concert 1918

Curator: János Kmetty’s 1918 painting, "Concert," executed in oil paint, presents a scene brimming with intriguing visual dynamics. Editor: It immediately strikes me as an unconventional Arcadia, the kind of gathering you might dream after listening to Debussy on repeat. There’s a strangely angular serenity about it. Curator: Kmetty's exploration of fauvist and expressionist styles is evident. Look at the bold, unnatural coloration and flattened perspective which, while initially disorienting, contributes to a unique viewing experience. What do you make of this stylistic choice? Editor: The deliberate use of blues and greens in those angular, almost crystalline structures forming the 'trees' and sky imbues the image with a mythic weight. Notice how the figures themselves seem to almost merge into their surrounding landscape. And the small figure of a woman holding a small bird seems a kind of echo of Classical muses, no? Curator: Precisely. Consider the socio-political context of 1918. The end of the First World War saw many artists questioning traditional academic styles. Kmetty, through his avant-garde approach, may be seeking a visual language to represent a society in flux, seeking harmony after upheaval. Editor: Or perhaps the artist suggests that nature has become something other than simply idyllic. The hard angles hint at an intrusion of the modern, a severing of the easy connection between the figures, music, and environment that is traditionally associated with idealized scenes like this. Notice, too, how the background silhouette almost resembles prehistoric figurines, linking the figures with nature and antiquity in complex, surprising ways. Curator: Yes, that is a keen observation of a fascinating dialogue. What stands out for you when thinking about what the work represents in terms of cultural value? Editor: To me, the enduring cultural value lies in its bold re-imagining of historical imagery. Kmetty appropriates tropes to critique societal tension but at the same time uses his artistic ability to open paths to alternative artistic vocabularies. Curator: An illuminating point. Editor: And a fitting conclusion for an interesting composition.