Vajda Lajos Kopony Madárral 1939 1939

Vajda Lajos made this print, Kopony Madárral, in 1939. It’s a monochrome image, all greys and blacks, that reminds us that artmaking is a process of layering and revealing. Look at the upper part of the piece: the head is created with a kind of net or web, almost like a matrix. The lines are dense, yet they don't quite obscure the light shining through. It’s a balancing act between presence and absence. The texture is rough, the marks are raw, and you can almost feel the artist's hand at work. It's like a visual poem, open to interpretation. The lower part is equally compelling, with sharp, angular shapes. They echo the head and draw you back into the work. Does Lajos remind us of Klee, in the way that he creates a world of symbols and signs? In the end, it’s up to us to decide. The beauty of art lies in its ambiguity.