Unheard of Meeting 1942

Cyprián Majerník made this ‘Unheard of Meeting’ with washes of brown and ochre ink to create a sketchy composition. It looks like he was figuring something out, like taking notes in visual form, and that feels really generous. The layering of thin washes creates a sense of depth, even though the colour range is really limited. Look at the way the figures are built up with quick, loose strokes, like vertical rain. There’s a real sense of movement and energy in these marks. They remind me a little bit of Daumier. That single, dark, figure on horseback stands out because the artist has built up the layers of wash to create a really powerful focal point. Ultimately, the overall effect is ambiguous, like it is more about a dream or memory, than anything we could put our finger on.