Motorrider 1928

This is Sandor Bortnyik’s Motorrider, and while the date isn't available, it does give off a feel of the early twentieth century! Look at those confident flat blocks of color – the creamy background, the muted greens and browns. It makes me think about what it must have been like for Bortnyik to be in the studio, pushing these forms around, trying to find just the right balance between flatness and depth, geometric rigidity and whimsical fantasy. The rider up front seems to be patiently waiting, as another rider approaches in the distance. The purple of the machine is not quite like any other purple I've seen. It almost feels like it has a scent. It’s a simple painting, but full of visual ideas. You can see Bortnyik was playing with constructivism, but then, he makes it his own. It’s like he’s saying, "I’m part of this conversation, but I have my own voice." And isn't that what painting is all about?