White Walls 1939

Curator: Here we have Istvan Ilosvai Varga’s “White Walls,” completed in 1939. He worked ‘en plein air,’ utilizing oil paint to capture this cityscape. Editor: The thick brushstrokes, almost sculptural, give it such an immediate, tactile quality, wouldn't you agree? I’m immediately struck by how solid the forms seem despite the fairly muted palette. Curator: Absolutely. Given the period, leading up to the Second World War, this could be seen as a powerful depiction of societal decay. Look at the architecture, slightly askew, almost crumbling. One can’t ignore the socio-political context. The dilapidated state mirrors broader anxieties about stability and the looming threat of conflict. Editor: Interesting. My initial reaction focused on the underpainting – the ochre tones that peek through lend warmth to what could be austere. It's like a semiotic dance of shadow and light – the white isn't pure, it’s imbued with the history of the painting process itself. Curator: Yes, and think about the "white walls" themselves. Whose walls are these? White is not necessarily a neutral color—it can be deeply implicated in power structures, exclusionary practices… It could speak volumes about class and identity, particularly given the socio-economic upheaval occurring across Europe at the time. Editor: True, but I'm drawn to the formalism within. How Varga balances the composition through line and color, those verticals against the more loosely structured horizontal planes... It’s undeniably skilled. Curator: And there is also that window… almost like an empty frame itself—a void where expectations might lie. Perhaps a deliberate commentary by Varga of the unfulfilled promises of the interwar period? It definitely leaves one with a certain sense of melancholy. Editor: I see your point. Though, in closing, for me, this painting transcends mere historical documentation; the inherent formalism elevates it to an almost philosophical inquiry of being and seeing, itself. Curator: I can agree with that sentiment— it definitely provides multiple avenues for thought. Thank you!