181 - Béla CZÓBEL (Budapest 1883-1976)

Béla CZÓBEL (Budapest 1883-1976) Szentendre under the snow Circa 1965 Oil on canvas 65 x 81.5 cm Signed lower right "Czobel". On the back of the frame, the label of R. S Johnson Fine Art, Chicago On back of canvas, n°18 in red chalk This lot is presented as a temporary import. This lot will be sold under the general VAT regime (on the total price at the rate of 5.5%). Provenance: R. S Johnson Fine Arts in Chicago In Hungary, snow usually falls in January and February. A thick fog often forms, giving Szentendre a mysterious allure, like a city floating on the Danube. Situated at a latitude of 47.7° north, Szentendre is much further north than Sapporo, Japan, which lies at 43° north. From December to February, maximum temperatures remain below 5°C and minimums fall below 0°C. However, as precipitation is rare, snow only covers the ground in a thin layer, as in this picture. The top of a fence in the foreground suggests that Czóbel painted this scene from the window of an upstairs room. The snow covering the roofs and ground creates a wonderful contrast with the rest of the landscape, revealing another face of Szentendre. You can almost feel the coldness of winter on the canvas.