Vadas József (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 12. (Budapest, 1992)

HORVÁTH Hilda: Marcel Jean textiltervei a Francia-Magyar Pamutipar RT számára

51-53. Pattern composed of objects 51. KRTF 2194 10x10 cm p.tempera marked 52. KRTF 2261 12x12 cm p.tempera marked 53. KRTF 2262 12.7x11.2 cm p.ink unmarked This drawing composed of matches origins from reality and was made from sight. Marcel Jean shades die sticks finely, but die essence of the numerous groups of matches lies not in die naturalistic way of illustration but in the inventive composition (KRTF 2262). We are reminded of Francis Picabia's The Lady With M at che sm where the hair of matches is just as absurd and inventive as designing a composition of matches on textile. The odier two pictures (KRTF 2194, KRTF 2261) actually show plain simple, entwined chains in white, grey and blue, and in white, blueish grey, blue and red. The chain lines appear to be real, but with the rhythmic repetition of light and shade effects, with the regular alteration of dark and light stains, they are turned into an abstract, riiytiimic, endless line of patterns. 54. Black flower composition 54. KRTF 2419/8 15.8x14.5 marked Among colourful flower pictures and strict, black and white geometrical patterns, this picture is unique.using several shades of white and black widi refined, sensitive fading. The picture shows a flower, softiy appearing from die depths of the background. 55. Musical motifs 55. KRTF 2174 12x11.7 cm p.tempera, ink unmarked The occurrence of a faded, brownish drawing among bright or contrasting black and while colours is fairly unusual: alternating musical motifs (instruments, scores and violin clefs) appear in regular ellipses, arranged in lines. The empty surface between them is filled with black notes. Their entirely spontaneous shape and position dissolves die horizontal and vertical severity of the oval fields. In conclusion, we may assume diat Marcel Jean's artistic talent is apparent from his pattern designs as well, despite the fact that they mainly amounted no more tiian a way to earn his living. Marcel Jean's artistic merits are primarily the imaginative range of motifs and the varied way of compisition. He is a master of ine shades as well as of colour contrasts, or of opposing black and white or light and shadow. His creative, surrealist phantasy produced interesting, stimulating compositions and imaginary ornamentation, which served as patterns for special, representative textiles.