CSÓK, István
(1865, Pusztaegres - 1961, Budapest)

Winter in the Spring



1913
Oil on wood, 64 x 80 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

In the works of Csók, there is a strange mixture of French and Hungarian trends of art. His pictures with figures and portraits are dominated by graceful elegance but it is present in some landscapes, too. After a long stay in Paris, he returned to Hungary in 1910 and was pleased to find a flourishing art life in Budapest. As soon as his pictures were appreciated in his country, his art became richer under the influence of favourable circumstances. Although he referred to himself as an impressionist, only few of his works can be termed as such, including the present one although he did not apply the technique of colour resolution. Elek Petrovics, a friend, said about how the picture was painted: "A blizzard arose all of a sudden on an April day, and very soon Városliget was covered with snow for a few hours. Csók painted it with fascinating cheerfulness and grace which radiated from his soul, and with gracefulness characteristic of his art." Csók was engaged in catching the experience, the impression of the moment, this is why the ardour of the artist and the happiness of creation are so impulsive and fascinating.

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