Fraternity-Testvériség, 1964 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1964-01-01 / 1. szám

FRATERNITY

9

ALFONZ LENGYEL:

THE LIFE AND ART

OF

ALEXANDER F I NTA

HUN GARIAN -AMERICAN SCULPTOR

(Continuation)

The perfection of an artist’s form is limited by his knowledge. For example, he cannot paint a picture of a horse if he has never seen one. But even if he has, the work can be a perfect piece of art, Finta believed, only if it is an exact likeness of a horse, bearing the characteristics of that animal and the character which sets it apart from others. This is why Finta claimed that art is an achievement based on the artist’s knowledge and research. Having condensed his observations in his mind, he expresses them in terms of form, color, or light and shadow effects. The manner of expression, Finta believed, should be such as to make the artist’s observations recognizable, and preferably to everyone.

The artistic effect of form should convey the id ea the artist wishes to express in his work, for idea is inseparable from form, though the artist, of course, must possess the talent to implant in his work this intellectual —• and — spiritual element. “The weakness in contemporary art”, he said, “I attribute to its materialistic foundation.” 6 And, again, “The allegories and symbols which embellish the creation of the ancient artists are their glorification of Ideas.”7

Form is influenced by various factors, such as color, temperature, weight, angle of observation,

6 Alexander Finta, unpublished miscellaneous notes, (read at his widow’s home, Los Angeles, California, Dec. 26, 1958).

7 Ibid.