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Greek Columns

Print
ca. 2000 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Istvan Orosz works in a tradition of fantasy which can be seen in the work of the Surrealists but also goes back to such artists as Giuseppe Arcimboldo and Piranesi. He frequently uses the style of 16th and 17th century draughtsmen to create his illusions. His work also seems to have developed out of the ideas of the 20th century Dutch artist Maurits Cornelius Escher.

By a very precise construction of architectural features, often with the 'naturalising' effect of landscape also brought into play, Orosz tricks the eye into reading two different images almost simultaneously. At least one writer, Margaret Moore, relates this treatment of the image to the way in which Eastern European artists under Communism 'learned the subtle art of misdirection and hidden messages. There would be a second image hidden in the first and the public always understood to read between the lines see behind the picture'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGreek Columns (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching on paper
Brief description
Image from an hexagonal plate of ruined temple in a wooded glade, etching, Istvan Orosz, Hungary
Physical description
Image from an hexagonal plate of ruined temple in a wooded glade. Tricks of perspective, geometric and pictorial space played with the temple construction in the manner of M.C. Escher
Dimensions
  • Image height: 300mm
  • Image width: 230mm
  • Platemark height: 305mm
  • Platemark width: 267mm
  • Sheet height: 502mm
  • Sheet width: 415mm
Copy number
14/18
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed in the artist's hand below the image: to the left with title in English: Greek Columns; in the centre with edition no. 23/30 and to the right with the artist's signature Istvan Orosz
Credit line
Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund
Subjects depicted
Summary
Istvan Orosz works in a tradition of fantasy which can be seen in the work of the Surrealists but also goes back to such artists as Giuseppe Arcimboldo and Piranesi. He frequently uses the style of 16th and 17th century draughtsmen to create his illusions. His work also seems to have developed out of the ideas of the 20th century Dutch artist Maurits Cornelius Escher.

By a very precise construction of architectural features, often with the 'naturalising' effect of landscape also brought into play, Orosz tricks the eye into reading two different images almost simultaneously. At least one writer, Margaret Moore, relates this treatment of the image to the way in which Eastern European artists under Communism 'learned the subtle art of misdirection and hidden messages. There would be a second image hidden in the first and the public always understood to read between the lines see behind the picture'.
Bibliographic reference
Orosz Istvan. Catalogue sponsored by Nemzeti Kulturalis Alapprogram, Papyrus Hungaria Rt.; Pro Kultura Sopron and Utisz Grafic Studio. Budapest, ?2001
Collection
Accession number
E.1056-2003

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Record createdJune 17, 2004
Record URL
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