Czobel Béla Térdére Támaszkodó Ülő Nő 1940 1940

This 1940 drawing by Béla Czobel, rendered in ruddy sanguine chalk, looks like it was created in one sitting, capturing a model reclining in what we might call, a 'state'. The reddish-brown chalk is dragged and layered, almost smudged into the paper. The line work is scrawly, full of energy, and the hatching creates a beautiful illusion of form. The way Czobel coaxes tone from this simple medium is really gorgeous. I love the area around her back, where the chalk is slightly more dense. It really makes her form pop. You can almost feel the weight of her figure pressing down on the surface she sits on. There is something about Czobel’s mark making which reminds me of Matisse. Especially some of his drawings from the 40’s. Like Matisse, Czobel is not afraid to leave the evidence of his process on display, inviting us to witness the moment of creation. Ultimately, Czobel's drawing underscores that art is as much about the questions we ask as the answers we arrive at.