Czóbel Béla, Gyümölcsöstál 1932 

Bela Czobel's 'Fruit Bowl', made in 1932, offers us a glimpse into the artist's negotiation with modernism through a personal lens. Czobel, a Hungarian-born artist who lived through the tumultuous years of the two World Wars, uses a muted palette to depict a classical still life. The somber tones might reflect the socio-political atmosphere of Europe between the wars, a period marked by uncertainty and loss. The fruit, traditionally a symbol of abundance and sensuality, is rendered with a heavy, almost melancholic touch. Czobel and his wife moved to Paris to escape Nazi persecution. The couple lived there in hiding under assumed identities. Knowing this we can view this simple piece as a symbol of longing and hope in a period of great uncertainty and immense political and social challenges. The choice of subject feels intimate, a quiet resistance against the turmoil of the outside world. A hope that is not naive, but rooted in the tangible beauty of everyday life.