Artwork
Apus de soare
Apus de soare is a print by Carol Pop de Szathmári. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum. Created circa 1874, this modest watercolor depicts a tranquil evening scene.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1874, this modest watercolor depicts a tranquil evening scene. A pale pink sky frames a faint yellow disc suggesting a setting sun, while silhouetted trees rise from a gently sloping hill. The ground is rendered in muted browns and grays, punctuated by indistinct marks that may represent stones or footprints. The composition conveys a fleeting moment of dusk.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a quiet landscape at twilight, emphasizing the transition between day and night. The subdued palette and softened outlines evoke a sense of calm and the passage of time, inviting viewers to contemplate the subtle changes in light and atmosphere that accompany sunset.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the piece displays a loose, rapid application of pigment. Colors bleed at their edges, creating soft transitions between sky, foliage, and terrain. The brushwork is informal, and the signature in the lower corner appears hurried, reinforcing the impression of an on‑the‑spot sketch rather than a polished studio piece.
History & Provenance
The artist, Carol Szathmari, was a Transylvanian Hungarian active in Bucharest during the mid‑19th century, noted for his contributions to early photography and war documentation. This particular watercolor is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains accessible for study of Szathmari’s lesser‑known pictorial output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carol Szathmari (Romanian: Carol Popp de Szathmari, Hungarian: Szathmáry Pap Károly; 11 January 1812, Kolozsvár – 3 July 1887, Bucharest) was a Romanian painter, lithographer, and photographer of Transylvanian Hungarian…
