140. Gate to the Sea (Balchik) [cca. 1933-1934]

One of the richest veins of Tonitza’s mastery undoubtedly consists of his colours, as painting is colour for the artist, as well as a means mirroring emotions. His palette thus becomes the sensitive image of an idea, in relation to attitudes, thoughts, or emotions, used by the artist to evoke that which he loved the most: people, nature, or Balcic. Balcic offered the painter Tonitza, starting in 1933, endless chances for intuition, and the intimate and picturesque beauty of the place would serve as pillars in harmonizing colours, shapes, lines, and movements, which will give rise to beautiful, radiant compositions and landscapes. His chromatic particularities become basic features of his creation, materialized in his personal exhibitions, as well as in the daring exhibitions of the "Group of four". One of the group exhibitions which brings together Balcic’s most truthful aspects is the exhibition of 6-31 May 1934, held at Dalles Hall, when the artist presented a series of representative works of reference for his creation - "Poarta lui Osman" ("Osman’s Gate"), "Cetatea (Balcic)" ("Citadel (Balchik)", "Baia turcească" ("Turkish Bath"), "Cafeneaua lui Mahmut" ("Mahmut’s Coffee Shop"), "Margine de crâng" ("Woodside") , "Tătărie" ("Tartars"), "Poartă de zid turcească" ("Turkish Wall Gate") et al. He depicted an authentic Balcic, immersed in warm, opal lights, with limy, smooth rocks, rendered by the artist on endless summer mornings. In full transformation of his artistic expression, his visions herald a new bright theme, transforming Tonitza into a loyal contemplator of Dobrogea’s realms. (G.M.)

References

COMARNESCU, Petru, „N.N.Tonitza" , Ed. Tineretului, Bucuresti, 1962. ȘORBAN, Raul, „Nicolae Tonitza", Ed. Meridiane, Bucuresti, 1965. BREZIANU, Barbu, „Nicolae Tonitza", Ed. Arta Grafica, Bucuresti, 1967. BREZIANU, Barbu, „Nicoale Tonitza", Ed. Meridiane, București, 1986. PĂULEANU, Doina, „Grupul celor Patru", Monitorul Oficial, 2012.

Dimensions

width 39 cm, height 48 cm, custom 48 × 39 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed bottom right, with brown, "Tonitza"

Dating

cca. 1933-1934

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