Portrét Márie Hanulovej 1938

Jozef Hanula made this portrait of Mária Hanulová, maybe his sister, maybe a friend, using soft, blended strokes of pastel or charcoal. Look at how the tones shift almost imperceptibly, especially in her face and neck, creating subtle shadows that give her form. The physical quality of the marks, how they build up into layers, gives the image a soft, almost dreamy quality. There's an intimacy here. Notice the concentrated dark marks describing her dress which contrast with the delicate hatching that models her face. You can see the hand of the artist, the way he built up the image through repeated, gentle touches. Thinking about other artists who explored portraiture with the same kind of understated touch, I think of Whistler, but Hanula has a directness that feels very much his own. It’s less about virtuosity and more about quiet observation. Art always leaves something unsaid, inviting us to bring our own experiences.