Corneliu Baba

Corneliu Baba (Craiova, 1906 - Bucharest, 1997) 

170gsm A3 Size Colour White Satin Print

Oil on canvas 100,8 cm x 93 cm

In the corner of the artist’s studio a man in his 50's sits bent over a chess board, his hands resting on his knees. From his attitude and posture we can tell he is deeply engrossed in the move underway, most likely a black knight’s attack over a white pawn. These are two of the seven pieces we can see on the board. The close-range, steep angle view is particularly intriguing: the painter (Baba was a tall, well-built man) is also the invisible partner in this chess game. He alone can run the narrow line between inside and outside, between an active player and an attentive observer.

The National Museum of Romania