Hrčiarska street in Košice 1910 - 1915

This is Ľudovít Čordák’s, Hrčiarska street in Košice. The surface is a symphony of subdued tones and soft brushstrokes, built up in layers, that feels like a memory of a place rather than a photographic depiction. I find myself drawn to the lower part of the painting, where the wet street reflects the figures walking away. The reflections are not mirror images but rather elongated, distorted versions of reality, like ghostly echoes. It reminds me of how we often see things not as they are but as we remember them, filtered through our own experiences and emotions. The painting reminds me of Whistler, particularly in its atmospheric quality and emphasis on tonal harmony. But unlike Whistler's more studied compositions, Čordák's painting feels more spontaneous, more intuitive. It's like he's inviting us to wander through the streets of Košice with him, to experience the city not as a tourist but as a fellow traveler.