Avril (April) 1951

Gy Szabo Bela made this black ink wood engraving titled 'Avril' in 1951, and you can tell by the way the lines drag across the page that it was printed by hand. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving, carving and scraping. I imagine the artist carefully considering each line, each mark, trying to capture the essence of the subject. I see Szabo Bela outside in springtime, watching the clouds roll over, a tree in full bud, and feeling that sense of imminent change. The sky has these parallel lines like some kind of weird weather is blowing in. There’s a kind of vibration in the air. This print reminds me of other artists, across time, who are in conversation with nature, like Agnes Martin or Hilma af Klint. This work offers a way of thinking and experiencing the world that embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.