Czóbel Körhinta 1904 1904

In 1904, Béla Czóbel painted this image of a carousel, it seems, with oils on canvas. Look at the way that Czóbel applies the paint here, it's full of energy! The visible brushstrokes make the image seem to vibrate, as though it is coming to life. The colour palette is joyful, with touches of pink, blue, green, and red vying for attention. The texture is really important here, the paint is layered on thick and luscious, almost as if you could reach out and touch it. Notice the way that Czóbel uses small dabs of paint to create a sense of movement and light. I keep coming back to the red shape on the right side of the carousel, the one that looks like a beam. It feels almost figurative, like a person standing watch, but it's also just a pure, unadulterated expression of colour and form. This piece reminds me of some of the Fauvist painters, like Matisse, who were also experimenting with bold colours and expressive brushwork at this time. It really shows how art is an ongoing conversation, with artists building on each other's ideas and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.