Visitor in Prague 1992

Maria Bozoky made this watercolor, Visitor in Prague, sometime during her lifetime. Look at the way the buildings just seem to rise up, sketched with a nervous energy. I imagine Bozoky standing there, maybe in the cold, rapidly trying to capture the essence of the city. You know, sometimes painting feels like trying to catch a thought before it disappears. The thin watercolor lines sort of vibrate on the page. See how she uses those reds and blues to create depth, suggesting the layered history of Prague itself? That little figure in the hat – is he a self-portrait, a passerby, or just a figment of her imagination? It's like she's inviting us to wander through the streets with her. Maybe painting is like time travel: we can be with the painter, and with the visitor, all at once. Bozoky’s painting reminds us of art's capacity to hold multiple perspectives.