László Mednyánszky: 10 works

'Ladislav Mednyánszky was the most iconic Impressionist working on Slovak territory. He lived for some time in Strážky mansion, within sight of the High Tatras and visually explored the surrounding countryside, especially the bends in the Poprad River nearby.'

'This also includes this work, where he depicts a common motif of landscape at the foot of the High Tatras, where he often went on several-day trips to paint. The moment of the spring rain affected the way he perceived the landscape, which we can include among the moody landscapes influenced by the Barbizon school.'

'The work belongs to the period at the end of the 80s, when Mednyánszky was influenced by impressionist paintings.'

'This is one of the variants of the theme which Mednyánszky employed under the influence of the Barbizon school.'

'It is clear that even during the 90s, Mednyánszky was focused on interesting male specimens that he depicted in his portrait studies.'

'Besides the theme of High Tatras, Mednyánszky was also fascinated by the lowlands, where he went to paint the puszta and the river Tisa.'

'Mednyánszky uses impasto brushstrokes and the influence of impressionism and the interest in capturing the light can be clearly seen in the picture.'

'The knowledge of impressionism is clearly visible; the work with light becomes characteristic for Mednyánszky.'

'During the First World War, Mednyánszky enlisted in the army despite his advanced age and fragile health. He became part of so-called 'artist war group'.'

'The artist's father, Baron Eduard Mednyánszky, died in Strážky in the year 189, while Mednyánszky was with him during this time. He painted several studies of his father and this one is a record of the inevitable fate; he depicted his father's likeness on catafalque.'