Beck was a pioneer, one of the founders of modern Hungarian sculpture. His oeuvre, built up consistently and consciously, it imposing both in size and quality. He was equally excited by the smallest medal and the largest block of stone. At the beginning of his career his modelling and the essence he strived for were alien to other Hungarian sculptors. He was greatly influenced by his experiences in France, Germany and Italy as well as by the theories of Hildebrand.
He carved his relief of the "Relining Woman" in 1912 (from 1902 onwards he carved all his stone statues himself). The emphasized contours and sharp, monumental forms of reclining woman show up against the rustically treated background. As in his other stone works, here too Beck has retained the block-like appearance of the stone while carving his female figure. This relief gives a harmonious effect, even though, for artistic reasons, some of the smaller details are deliberately over-sized.
|