Vajda Lajos. 

This drawing is by Vajda Lajos, who was born in Hungary in 1908. As a Jewish man coming of age in pre-war Europe, his identity was inevitably shaped by a growing environment of exclusion and persecution. The shapes and patterns of this abstract artwork are reminiscent of Surrealism, yet there’s a darker tone. The image is dominated by what appears to be an uprooted plant, pulled violently from the earth. It recalls the forced displacement of people that would soon overwhelm Europe during the Holocaust. Vajda’s art often grapples with themes of mortality and cultural fragmentation, and he tragically died young at only 33. His work encapsulates the anxiety of a generation facing immense political and social upheaval. In his own words, he sought to “find the inner connection between man and the universe.” This drawing serves as a poignant reminder of the personal impact of historical events, speaking to our shared vulnerability.