Vajda Lajos Dragon Clash 1940, Charcoal on Paper, 90x126cm 1940

Vajda Lajos made this charcoal drawing, Dragon Clash, on paper in 1940. The linear hatching creates tone and volume, and the bold, flowing marks build up these rather weird, but dynamic forms. It's all about process here, you can almost feel him layering the marks over and over until the figures emerged. The pressure and direction of the charcoal lines really bring the figures to life. Check out the mass of lines that make up the upper right form. You can almost feel the energy of the dragon or monster through the density of the hatching, like the marks are vibrating. I wonder what sort of marks you would make to convey energy? For me, Lajos’s work is kind of reminiscent of late Goya, who also conjured monsters from the dark with an intense immediacy. Both artists show us that art doesn't have to be about answers; it can be about embracing the unknown.