Magic 1907

Lajos Gulacsy’s painting, Magic, is a hazy glimpse into a strange encounter. I picture him, brush in hand, layering ochre and red and olive until this scene comes into focus. There’s something about the soft, diffused edges that pulls me in. I can imagine Gulacsy trying to conjure a dreamlike state, the kind of feeling you get when you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming. The figures are caught in a moment of intense, intimate exchange, yet there's a sense of distance, as if they’re characters in a play, enacting a timeless drama. I’m reminded of other painters who’ve explored the terrain of the subconscious like Odilon Redon. Painters like Gulacsy and Redon remind us that painting isn't just about depicting what we see, but about giving form to the invisible, making the intangible tangible. It’s like they're holding a mirror up to our inner lives, reflecting back the mysteries and contradictions that make us human.