Czobel Béla 1910 Lisa Czobel 

This is Bela Czobel's portrait of Lisa Czobel, made in 1910 using ink on paper. Czobel's choice of ink is really interesting here, as it is very immediate, unforgiving and yet produces a rich textural effect. Note the heavy blacks of the hair contrasting with the grey smudges of shading on the face, a difficult effect to achieve with an unforgiving material. See how the paper creates a sense of immediacy; unlike an oil painting that might take months, ink lends itself to quick, almost impulsive execution. The artist is thinking on the paper. This immediacy contrasts with the context within which the work was produced. There's a sense of intimacy in this portrait of Lisa, and the relatively inexpensive materials speak to an alternative to the official art world, in which oil paints and bronze were the norm. Czobel seems to be deliberately working against those established hierarchies. The result is a compelling work that finds beauty and expression in humble materials.