SALZBURG LADY 1949

Oil on Canvas

1948 found Ivan in Austria at the peak of his European period. The war was over and Europe was recovering amidst bombed-out cities and food rationing.

Memories of concentration camps and man’s inhumanity to man filled the air.

Ivan decided to paint a vision of recovery, a glimpse of better times and a wish for a brighter future.

He found a wonderful model called Lillie and developed an image of perfect beauty in a hopeful society. Lillie was later to become Ivan’s wife.

Times were so hard that Lillie’s clothes were borrowed from a local store.

He decided to paint the picture live on the street rather than in the studio to capture the light and color. His “Open Air” studio drew attention and Ivan became a legend locally. A Local photographer took the attached photo of Ivan at work with Lillie.

Viewing the Piece

Notice the decadence of the lady revealing the stubbornness of humanity in its ability to rise above defeat and squalor. The subject is heading out to enjoy an evening at the theatre and drawing the attention of some local gentlemen in bow ties and tuxedos.

The late afternoon sun adding vigour and energy to the Lady and drawing the city into the shadows. This again defines Ivan’s belief that the human spirit rises above all else.

Ivan painted Lillie with Blonde hair and blue eyes whereas she was dark-haired in real life. It should be remembered that at this time the Aryan look was considered to be the ultimate beauty.

You can also see the love that filled Ivan for Lillie as he painted her in perfection and innocence.

The viewer is invited to take some time and reflect on this captured moment. Feel the emotion of the artist, the sense of the society, the whisp of perfume in the night air and the shuffle of feet on the cobblestone street as people go about their lives.