Barki Gergely et al.: Czóbel. A French Hungarian painter - ArtMill publications 5. (Szentendre, 2014)
Emőke Bodonyi: Czóbel's water colours and graphic works
ЛГCt_ v~\4jáAcfbs CM*-4- cCt 182. BÉLA CZÓBEL: SAILBOATS, 1910S. SZENTENDRE, FERENCZY MUSEUM daughter Lisa in the Netherlands is preserved in Ferenczy Museum (Plates 175 and 176).44 This was presumably the time, when Czóbel’s way of expression changed for a more simple, naive and playful manner, the influence of which can be felt on the first etchings made in Germany. The lithographs are just the opposite - representing female and girl portraits with wide, energetic lines and dark shades, doing something simple, like the Girl with Needlework of 1923, with the inscription “Für die Freunde Zeitgenössischer Kunst” (Plate 169), or the lithograph of the Girl with a Cat sitting quietly (Plate 184).45 Besides those mentioned, several lithographs of the same period are in the collection of Ferenczy Museum. The brown pastel like artwork of Annus is of the same concept, slightly melancholic, showing the model in the favourite posture leaning to one side a little. (Plate 166). As described by Willi Wolfradt, these female figures radiating deeop emotions are “the sad pictures of getting lonely.”46 The lithograph of the Hunter with Pipe is different from the female portraits of wistful look, however, it was made after a painting born still in Germany.47The drawing of the head of the sitting man in full length was published in the 1926 issue of the KÚT periodical (Plate 138), the lithograph version is preserved in Ferenczy Museum (Plate 172).48 As István Genthon critically noted: “The figure of the Hunter with Pipe (1923), with hat and slipper chin is anatomically irrelevant, mosaic-like, clinging to the manner of Expressionism”.49 Beside the lithographs there are etching versions of paintings, like the Head of a Woman - presumably - using the model of The Cook (Plate 187). The painting variation of the etching of Still-life with Birdcage (Little Girl with Birdcage, Plate 142) has been found quite recently. Nevertheless, its lithograph version is also known, published in Germany together with another piece.50 From among graphic works, etchings form an independent part of Czóbel’s activity: he used the technique in Hungary around 1911, encouraged by Róbert Berény.51 Dénes Pataky dates the etching Sitting Woman to 1908 (Plate 76).52 Its making might be connected to the ambition of six 41 The sheets: Head of a Girl, lithograph, 374 X 244 mm, signature below right: Czóbel; Girl, etching, 244 x 112 mm, signature below right: Czóbel. Both can be found in the Lindenau-Museum, Altenburg. 42 Its photo is published in Kratochwill, Mimi: Czóbel Béla (7883-7976) élete és művészete [Czóbel’s Life and Art]. Magyar képek, Veszprém-Budapest, 2001, p 31. 43 Kunstblatt, 1921, No. 10, p 295. Mentioned by Sterren (op. cit. in note 28), p 211. 44 Sterren (op. cit. in note 28), p 209. The work was described in the inventory for a long time as pen and ink drawing. The sheet of the Ferenczy Museum is signed, in the right upper corner probably with the artist’s handwriting: Isolde. 45 A chalk drawing version and a lithograph of the work is preserved in the Ferenczy Museum, Szentendre. 46 Wolfradt, Willi: “Ausstellungen”, Das Kunstblatt, 1922, No. 1, p 181. Cited: Túrok, Margit: “Czóbel Béla”. In: Bajkay: A magyar grafika (op. cit. in note 35), p 36. 47 The reproduction of the painting is published in: Sterren (op. cit. in note 28), p 211. 48 Hunter with Pipe, signature below right: Czóbel. KÚT, 31 December 1926, p 12. 49 Genthon: Czóbel (op. cit. in note 1), p 11. CZÓBEL’S WATER COLOURS AND GRAPHIC WORKS 119
