Description

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

This piece captures a timeless vibrant winter day in Central Park, with the 5th Avenue skyline and the Metropolitan Museum of Art standing proudly in the background.

The park is alive with activity, as children and adults enjoy the thrill of sleigh riding down the snowy hills. The figures, rendered in an impressionistic style, are full of motion and joy, though they remain anonymous, allowing the scene to speak universally of shared winter delights.

Dad, a formally trained classical artist from the Budapest Royal Academy of Fine Arts (1943-1948) found a deep connection to scenes like this. After escaping Communist Hungary in 1956, our family settled in uptown Manhattan, in Spanish Harlem. Central Park became our sanctuary, a place where we could all find joy and Dad could express his artistry.

He admired classical artists like Dufy, Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Van Gogh, Goya, Degas, and Cezanne, and their influence is evident in his work. His style, a blend of expressionism, fauvism, and impressionism, is full of life and emotion. Each brushstroke in this piece reflects his heart, embedded with the essence of our family’s new life in America.

From around 1960 to 1968, Central Park was not just a playground for us children but also a canvas for Dad. If there was snow, my Mom and us kids would tag along, carrying our wooden sleighs for endless fun. Dad would set up his easel, capturing the essence of these moments with a masterful hand.

This painting, with its rich colors and lively feel, brings back those cherished memories of snowy days and the warmth of family togetherness amidst the cold.

On this day, we all found winter joy on a hill near the museum, just off 5th Avenue. Dad setup his easel in the frosty snow and captured the moment (and us) in this Central Park Sleigh Ride. 💖