Vajda Lajos Melon Head, 1936, Oli on Carboard, 53,5x47cm 1936

Vajda Lajos made this painting called Melon Head in 1936 with oil on cardboard. Isn't it interesting how this melon-colored face, with its simple features, emerges from a background of red? Looking closely, I see a mix of thick, opaque strokes defining the face and thin, transparent washes creating the background. The texture is key; the rough cardboard support interacts with the oil paint to create a unique visual language. See how the mouth and eyes are described with just a few black lines? The bright yellow accents, like the circular clasp at the center of the form, pop against the muted tones. These details keep pulling me in, and invite me to think about the artist's hand as he pushes the paint around on the cardboard surface. Lajos reminds me of Picasso, playing with form and flattening space. It’s like a conversation, artists riffing off each other across time, with art itself becoming this ongoing, beautiful game.