THORMA, János
(1870, Kiskunhalas - 1937, Nagybánya)

Amongst Coachmen

1902
Oil on canvas, 100 x 120 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

This superb picture is without any predecessor in Thorma's oevre: it represents a link between Mihály Munkácsy and József Koszta. Experts differ when exactly the picture must have been painted but it is very likely that it marked a break during the period when "Rise, Hungarians!", his major work, was painted. (Genthon, Lyka and Radocsay think it comes from 1901, Réti speaks of 1902, and Dévényi and Aradi vote for 1904.) The romantic character of the artist breaks out unexpectedly to blur almost academic naturalism. There are no traces of drawing, objectivity or careful character portrayal. Instead, a pictorial richness and impressionism show up. The strong sunshine lights colours and makes patches full of reflexes so details in shadow, all the less colourful, contrast brightness. This kind of portrayal never returned in Thorma's oevre.


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