Viliam Scholtz 1914

Jozef Hanula made this painting of Viliam Scholtz, in oil paint, at some point in his career. Look at the muted colour palette; the black of the sitter’s coat bleeds into the dark background, punctuated by highlights of white in the sitter's face, collar, and cuff. There's a softness to the brushwork in the face, but the mark-making becomes more assertive in the clothing. The brushwork in the coat feels almost gestural, as if he were keen to get the painting finished! Look at the wisps of hair that form the beard, each strand is carefully delineated, and then there's that lone pince-nez perched on his nose! This reminds me a little of the work of Whistler, where the figure emerges from the darkness. These paintings, like conversations, can be interpreted in different ways. There is no one way to see it.