Church of Kecskemét 1923

Kmetty János painted ‘Church of Kecskemét’ and like many paintings, it probably started with an idea, or an urge, and then it grew, as they do, from the first mark to the last. Look at how the paint is laid on—it's not shy, but it’s also not overworked. The buildings are angular and blocky, rendered with thick, opaque strokes, while the sky is broken into translucent facets. See how the artist uses a limited palette of blues, greens, and reds, creating a sense of harmony and balance. The way he repeats the angles in the sky throughout the architectural forms is interesting - a bit like Cezanne. Notice that dark brown wedge in the foreground? It's almost like a stage prop, jutting out and disrupting our view. This reminds me a little of Morandi, the way he turns simple shapes into a meditation on form, space and seeing. Ultimately, this painting becomes less about a specific place and more about the act of looking, of seeing the world through the filter of paint.