Czobel Bela Zsákutca 1927 1929

Czobel Bela made this painting in 1927, it looks like it's oil. The way Bela handles tone here is pretty direct. There's not a lot of blending or fussing – it's more about the marks and how they sit together, like a puzzle of darks and lights. The paint itself seems applied with a kind of rough energy, like he's pushing it around to find the image. The surface has a tactile quality, with visible brushstrokes that catch the light. Look at the buildings, how they lean in towards the centre like they might fall over. The darkness around the figures gives them a sense of drama, of being caught in a specific moment. You can really sense the artist working, reacting, and wrestling with the medium to create something both solid and fleeting. This reminds me a little of Kokoschka, but Bela has his own way of seeing things. Art’s an ongoing dialogue, right?