Out of these deep layers of existence, pure artistic energy erupts as though from a creative volcano, blazing first through emotions and then through thoughts, solidifying into visual ideas and artistic conception. This in turn is brought to life on the canvas with expansive gestures and lively brushstrokes. In each layer of paint, Makarová’s great sensitivity lays bare the many layers of the soul, making dreams and longings both visible and immediate. The result is an always impressive furioso of colour and emotion.

And yet, Makarová’s great artistic talent means that she can tame the crescendo she brings into being. Looking at her artistic development in recent years, we see how her close relationship to Expressionism has given way to calmer lines, the substance of her paintings concentrated in clearly demarcated areas of colour, her works growing to a larger scale.

Despite this, there is a fundamental constancy in Makarová’s oeuvre, from her early works to her most recent creative phase: she consciously seeks out dialogue with the viewer, whether through direct eye contact by her mainly female subjects, or through their posture and body language. Aside from her incomparable colours, the aesthetic magic of which is in no doubt, Makarová’s great success as a painter lies in her ability to evoke emotions. It is no wonder that she has sold all her works of recent decades, and that they are now on display in significant public and private collections, such as that of the Austrian National Bank.