Ex libris van Ernest Tompos

This is ‘Ex libris van Ernest Tompos,’ a small print made by János Mata, sometime before 1944. Just look at how Mata uses a few lines to conjure a whole world! The graphic quality is just so strong. It’s all about the push and pull of black and white, which gives it such an immediate, visceral impact. But when you get closer, you see how the texture, the carving, the way the light catches the ink, it's all part of the story. Check out the sun at the top left – it’s so graphic, almost like a flower but with this dark, beating heart. The artist doesn’t hold back; he lets the medium do its thing. I am reminded of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist interested in the human condition, using printmaking to explore themes of war and oppression.