Collection

Ironer

Corneliu Baba

Basic information

ID: Ж-5719
Author: Corneliu Baba
Name: Ironer
Date of creation: 1979
Country: Romania
Culture: Eastern Europe
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 90.7 x 71

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: narrative art
Plot: Woman at work
Provenance: Handed over for permanent storage by the Directorate of Exhibitions of the Union of Artists of the USSR, 1982
Exposition: Lozinski Palace

Information about author

Author: Corneliu Baba
Artist's lifetime: 1906–1997
Biography: Corneliu Baba (1906–1997, Bucharest) was a painter, graphic artist and book illustrator. He studied in Bucharest and Iasi with Nicolae Tonita, a Romanian modernist. He was considered a formalist in Romania but managed to become a successful illustrator and painter. In 1956 his paintings were presented at the Venice Biennale. He worked in the realist tradition, but the influence of Expressionism and Post-Impressionism is visible in his work. For the artist it was natural to paint what he considered most significant, seeking the diversity of artistic expression, experimenting with colour, perfecting his artistic style and manner. The artist managed to combine the exceptional gift of the colourist with a sense of plasticity and volume.

Object description

Among the many female images created by Corneliu Baba, Ironer occupies its rightful place. In this one-figure composition, the main attention is concentrated on the figure of a young woman leaning over an iron. Paintbrush strokes accurately inscribe the oval of the young face, lush wavy hair, slumped shoulders and hands. The image is quite ordinary, yet vitally convincing. Accuracy of psychological characterisation is impressive when the artist has managed to outline her heroine's fate and the moody tone of her life with just a few strokes. Baba is laconic in his statements, everything is strict and precise, there are few details that are clearly marked and have their place in the composition.

Inscriptions

In the top right corner, there is the author's signature and year «79»

Ironer

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