“This drawing, with its vibrant felt-tip pen lines over graphite, captures a moment of artistic experimentation in the early 1970s, showcasing a move towards abstract form and bold color.”
Bold lines of blue, green, and red felt-tip pen crisscross this ivory paper, creating a dynamic, almost architectural composition. The title, "Inclinasions (1-5-71)," suggests a date, January 5, 1971, and hints at the leaning or slanting forms that dominate the drawing. These vibrant, almost neon colors are layered over subtle graphite marks, which peek through in places, providing a ghost of an underlying structure. The felt-tip pen, a relatively new medium in the early 1970s, allowed for a directness and intensity of color that differentiates this work from Molnár's earlier, more traditional paintings. This piece reflects a significant shift in artistic practice during a period of experimentation, moving away from representation towards an exploration of pure form and line.
- Artist
- József Molnár
- Medium
- Blue, green, and red felt-tip pen over graphite on ivory wove paper
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 50.8 × 50.2 cm (20 × 19 13/16 in.)
- Collection
- Prints and Drawings
- Culture
- Hungary
- Credit line
- Gift of the Irving Stenn, Jr. Family
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Look closely at the faint graphite lines beneath the felt-tip pen.
Notice how the blue, green, and red lines overlap and intersect.
Observe the precise, almost mechanical quality of the felt-tip lines.
See how the colors create a sense of depth and movement on the flat paper.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Inclinasions (1-5-71) — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
József Molnár
1821–1899 · HungaryJózsef Molnár was a Hungarian painter known for his landscapes and historical scenes, who also spent time painting portraits in Stuttgart.
Further Works by Molnár
Slender Woman with Vase
1894 · Art Institute of Chicago
Bathing Women
1880 · Hungarian National Gallery
Shepherd Boy
Hungarian National Gallery
Festival in Bretagne
1895 · Art Institute of Chicago
Vase
1898 · Art Institute of Chicago
József Csáky
Art Institute of Chicago
Untitled
Art Institute of Chicago
Portrait of a widow
1850 · Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery
