Laszlo Hamori, born in Budapest, Hungary, is a contemporary painter and craftsman. He is recognized for his figurative paintings on canvas and black-and-white charcoal drawings, utilizing mixed techniques of oil, graphite, pastel and gold leaf. His work explores the internal conflict between our primitive instincts and the demands of modern, technological society. Laszlo begins with a charcoal sketch, followed by a thin glaze of oil paint. For certain pieces, he applies multiple layers of oil paint using a brush, building up texture through individual dots. His style draws inspiration from the traditions of the Old Masters, with a focus on expressive figuration. He portrays the human figure in distinctive compositions that emphasize emotional depth and visual impact Laszlo creates art to fulfill his reactive impulse and to evoke emotion. His work often carries social and political messages, with the human figure as a central theme. He explores a variety of techniques to express these ideas, offering a dynamic range of artistic approaches. “Madonna of the Forest” is an oil painting depicting the Madonna with child, set in a hunting forest. The child is portrayed in a surrealistic manner, hanging over her arm. The halo around her head is made of 18-karat gold leaf, and her cape features a gold leaf inscription in Latin reading "1984," referencing George Orwell’s novel. This number serves as a warning, reflecting the novel's theme of how technological progress could lead to a dystopian future