Lot 195

Jindra Viková (1946) PORTRAIT BY THE WINDOW

In addition to the themes of the human face or love, Viková systematically explores the illusory nature of reality and its transience: "Everything is different and reality is often an illusion, when I look at something, I don't see it the next time, I just know about it, and I'm sure that it is so, only to find out the next minute that it is gone." (J. Viková). "Portrait in front of the window" is also such an illusion. It is somewhat reminiscent of the figure-ground problem, known from Gestalt psychology. The raised edge of the "Portrait" serves as a frame, but is also part of the whole composition. Viewer's eye is forced to jump between these formations, instinctively preferring classical depiction; the frame (in any form) draws attention to the interior of the work. The viewer thus sees either a "portrait" inside the frame or one whole piece, but with great difficulty, however, never both at the same time. Reality, just as in Viková's understanding, is therefore constantly evading us.