Ex libris van Tekla 1932

Kornél Révész made this ‘Ex libris van Tekla’ print, and though we don’t know when, its charm lies in its frankness. There's something so appealing about how the colours are laid down, all flat and bold, like a kid let loose with a box of crayons, embracing the process. Look at the way the bookshelf morphs into a cascade of flowers, each bloom a tiny dab of colour. The bookshelf itself is rendered with such simple lines, and those books with their bright spines, they're just joyful. The texture of the printmaking process is so present; you can almost feel the pressure of the block on the paper. The little figure seated to the side adds a human touch, maybe Tekla herself? Or maybe it represents the joy of reading. It reminds me of someone like Henri Matisse, particularly in the way he reduced forms to their essence, using colour and line to create a feeling. Art is a conversation, after all, a dialogue across time and space. There's no one right answer, just a kaleidoscope of possibilities.