Initiation 1976

Endre Rozsda’s “Initiation” is a painting made with oil on canvas. It is pure exuberance! There’s a sense of abundance in his approach to mark making. A patchwork of color, like stained glass – though there's nothing heavy about it. The way the light bounces off the surface gives a feeling of constant shifting, like you are walking through a busy city. Look at the way Rozsda carves out little shapes, the way he varies the paint consistency, using thick impasto in the bottom right, against the thinner translucent washes at the top. The eye is never still. Rozsda has constructed a world of visual possibilities. One can almost feel him wrestling with the image. It brings to mind the work of another Hungarian artist, Judit Reigl, particularly in her use of gesture. Both artists share a similar approach to painting as a form of discovery and exploration.