Vajda Lajos Feszültség 1938 1938

Vajda Lajos created this artwork called "Tension" in 1938. Lajos's surrealist art delves into the tensions of his time. Made in Hungary, this piece reflects the growing unease as Europe hurtled towards war. The clashing forms, rendered in stark black and white, evoke a sense of instability. The artist combines familiar and foreign elements to create something new. This juxtaposition mirrors the way that Hungary, caught between different political forces, was struggling to define itself in the late 1930s. The abstraction in the artwork suggests something hidden or repressed. To better understand this, consider what was happening in Hungary at the time. Fascist and authoritarian influences were on the rise and we can find this information through historical records, personal letters, and by looking at the political and cultural writings of the time. Art like this urges us to confront the social forces that shape our lives.