Vajda Lajos Madárház, 1935 1935

Vajda Lajos made this drawing, "Birdhouse", in 1935. It's a seemingly simple sketch that, for me, opens up to all sorts of interesting places. What strikes me first is the way Lajos uses line and tone to create form and space. The birdhouse itself is rendered with a kind of geometric precision, like an architect’s blueprint, while the muted gray tones add depth. Then there is that little figure hanging out on the bottom right. I love how the sketchy dots give it a soft, almost ghostly presence, as if it’s emerging from or dissolving into the background. It reminds me a little of Paul Klee, that playful approach to line and form, but Lajos brings his own sensibility. It's a world of his own making.