István Csók - Hay Gatherers

István Csók (1865 - 1961) was a Hungarian realist/impressionist painter who achieved a degree of recognition in the West in the early to mid-twentieth century. Though his art is still celebrated in Hungary, his presence has all but faded in the West. 

Csók is not among my favorite Hungarian painters. Nonetheless, his Hay Gatherers (1890) is certainly one of my favorite Hungarian paintings. Having revealed that, I must admit that I can't put my finger on why I like this painting so much.

Perhaps it is the muted colors, or the expression on the girl's face, or that her gaze falls directly on the viewer, or the idyllic rural landscape that resembles the area in which I live now. Whatever it is, this painting speaks to me of goodness, simplicity, and beauty.