Bortnyik Sándor, Ritmus 1. 

Sándor Bortnyik created this black ink drawing, Ritmus 1., during a fascinating period in Hungarian history. You might find it interesting to consider how this image creates meaning through its use of abstraction, which gained popularity in the early 20th century. The artwork has connections with the socio-political context of Hungary at that time. After the First World War, the country experienced political upheaval, with a short-lived communist regime followed by a more conservative government. This drawing reflects the avant-garde artistic movements that flourished in Hungary during that period. The clean lines and geometric shapes may suggest an interest in modern industrial design and architecture. To learn more, you could investigate the role of the Bauhaus movement in shaping Bortnyik’s vision, or research Hungarian art journals and manifestos from this period. The meaning of this work becomes clearer when we consider its place within the shifting social and institutional landscapes of its time.