Description

A signed limited print may be available of this piece! (click here)

This piece, capturing the Wollman Skating Rink, in Central Park New York City, showcases Dad's unique ability to blend impressionist and fauvist styles with an expressive touch.

The scene, as viewed from a hill near the rink, presents skaters on the ice, surrounded by spectators along the raised promenade. It’s winter, and a light dusting of snow partially covers the green hills of the park. The bare trees stand in stark contrast to the lively scene below, while the 59th Street skyline, punctuated by the iconic Pierre Hotel with its distinctive patina roof, forms a majestic backdrop.

We moved to New York City in the early 1960s, after escaping Communist Hungary in 1956, settling into a modest railroad-style apartment on the fourth floor of a pre-war building in Spanish Harlem. Our family life was intricately woven with the vibrant tapestry of the city, and historic Central Park quickly became a cherished retreat for us, and even more so stood as a continual model for Dad's art.

Dad, a classically trained artist from the Budapest Royal Academy of Fine Arts (1943-1948) found endless inspiration in the park's ever-changing seasons. His artistic vision, deeply influenced by the likes of Dufy, Matisse, and Renoir, was particularly drawn to the contrasts of nature and humanity, the interplay of the organic and the constructed.

In this work, Dad masterfully conveys the dynamic relationship between the natural beauty of Central Park and the towering structures of New York City. The swirling gray-blue clouds above mirror the movement on the rink, creating a sense of harmony and continuity. This painting, with its rich composition and emotive detail, encapsulates not only a moment in time but also the deep connection my father felt with the city and its landscapes.

On this day, so long ago, in 1964, Dad immortalized a New York moment with Skaters. ❤️

Through My Father's Eyes