Bela Czobel, Jeune Fille Assise 1962 

Bela Czobel created ‘Jeune Fille Assise’ in 1962, using oil paint to capture a seated young woman. The rough handling of the materials gives the painting a compelling immediacy. It feels as though Czobel worked quickly, building up layers of monochrome paint to create the figure and her surroundings. Note the visible brushstrokes and the varied textures, where he scratched into the wet paint and blended areas together. This direct engagement with the oil paint, a readily available material, underscores the artist's focus on the physical act of painting itself. Czobel’s approach elevates the process of painting, drawing attention to its materiality. The monochromatic palette reduces the image to its essential forms, emphasizing the weight and texture of the paint. The expressive handling of the medium transforms the conventional subject of a portrait into a study of process, challenging any rigid distinction between fine art and craft.