The main aim of Géza Mészöly’s work was to present true-to life, realistic paintings of the Hungarian landscape. He was especially fond of the regions around Lake Balaton and the Tisza. On these paintings he applied plein air technique learnt from the artists of the Barbizon School, which, besides painting outdoors, also involved painting what the eye could actually see and not themes defined in advance by the Academies.Fishermen’s Cottages at Lake Balaton was made in this spirit. The artist tried to present the atmospheric phenomena of the waterside landscape with its hot, humid air, the power of the sun and the variations of light that appeared as a consequence of the shade. He also followed the French predecessors, since a small group of people engaged in their everyday work – drawing water, tying nets – appear, with their equipment all around. This genre painting presents the everyday life of people living there, but since the artist observes the figures from a distance the scene appears idyllic. This effect is intensified by the pearly grey tone, which holds together the forms rendered in soft outlines and harmonizes the colours.
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