Czóbel Béla Váradi István Portré 1971 

Béla Czóbel sketched this portrait of Váradi István in 1971. The seemingly simple lines of the drawing reflect a lifetime of artistic study. Czóbel was a Hungarian painter, who, like many artists of his generation, spent time in Paris, immersing himself in Fauvism and Expressionism. The Fauvist movement, which included artists such as Henri Matisse, challenged the established art institutions of France by using strong, wild brushstrokes, bold lines, and vibrant colors. Its influence on the Hungarian modernists encouraged them to explore the possibilities of abstraction. Looking at this drawing, we can see how Czóbel retains the pared-down aesthetic he developed through these movements. Further research into Hungarian art of the 20th century, coupled with biographical information about both the artist and his sitter, would allow us to appreciate the cultural history that is captured in this image.