32. The riddle [1893]

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32. The riddle [1893]

Octav Băncilă

1872, Corni, Botoșani - 1944, Bucureşti

Estimate:

EUR 10.000 - 18.000

References

COMAN, Anton, "Octav Băncilă", State Publishing House for Literature and Art, Bucharest, 1954.

oil on canvas, 135 x 96 cm, Signed and dated bottom left, in brown, "Octav Băncilă, 1893"

In Octav Băncilă's painting, the character is not merely a presence but becomes an expression of an inner world. The faces, gazes, gestures, and attitudes of his characters bear the marks of experiences, emotional states, and the environment in which they live. The artist looks beyond the outward appearance of the person, attempting to capture fragility, dignity, restlessness, resignation, or inner strength hidden behind a face. Băncilă's portraiture thus stands out through a careful observation of human psychology. His characters are depicted in situations that gradually reveal their character and their way of viewing the world, and facial expressions become almost a language of emotions. Through seemingly simple details—an eye, a tension in the face, body posture, or a gesture—the painter constructs portraits loaded with meaning, where the exterior and interior of the character merge. In his work, characters reappear in poses and situations that allow him to explore different aspects of human nature. His focus is not only on the appearance of the characters but especially on their expressions, their relationships, and the emotional states they suggest. Faces and gestures thus become means through which distinct personalities are outlined, each carrying a particular experience and worldview. In the work "The Riddle," this concern materializes in

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SESSION

Tue, 20 October 2026, 19:00

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Artmark Institute of Art Management

Autumn Auction #664/2026

32. The riddle [1893]

32. The riddle [1893]

Octav Băncilă

References

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