City Park 1910

Kmetty János made this painting of a city park with oil on canvas. The brushstrokes are clearly visible; it’s a relatively quick, efficient painting technique. Although we might think of oil paint as a fine art material, consider its industrial production. Pigments had to be ground, oils refined. Even the canvas is a product of the textile industry. János applied it thinly, allowing the weave of the canvas to show through, a common practice among artists aiming to reduce material costs. The artist’s gestures are economical, almost diagrammatic, with layers of paint being clearly visible, as the artist simplifies the scene to a few essential forms. This no doubt expedited the painting process. So, even in a seemingly straightforward painting like this, we can see the influence of industrial capitalism. By looking closely at materials and the processes used, we gain a deeper understanding of the artist's creative choices.