Czóbel Béla, Ülő Férfi 

Here we see Bela Czobel’s sketch of a seated man. Although the exact date of its creation is unknown, Czobel’s trajectory from Hungary to Paris and eventually to Berlin, shaped his artistic vision. As part of the Fauves, his work diverged from traditional representation, reflecting the complex intersection of identity and societal norms. The man in the drawing seems burdened. His posture, combined with the bare lines, presents a figure stripped of social pretense, revealing a raw, internal state. The accompanying animal, perhaps a dog, may symbolize loyalty or companionship, yet it too is rendered with the same starkness, emphasizing a shared vulnerability. Czobel once stated his artistic goal was to "express feelings, not to reproduce what I see.” This approach invites us to consider how societal expectations of masculinity weigh on individuals and their emotional landscapes. Through its minimalist form, the sketch resonates with themes of isolation, introspection, and the search for authenticity.