The protagonist of his early paintings is the man on the street: passers-by, porters, sailors, maids and Bohemians, who might remind one of the happy-go-lucky characters of a JenőRejtő novel. Lake Balaton became the focus of his art in the early 1920s, and for a good reason too: the laconic and reserved painter lived on its shore throughout most of his life. Relaxed and airy, his signature technique overlaps oil pastel, graphics and oil painting. His unusual and singular compositions are sensitive attempts to capture such atmospheric phenomena as water, vapour and air, and above all, light, like so many visions. His works are often described as “lyrical,” and two analysts, ErnőKállai and IstvánGenthon detect parallels between his art and Ady’s poetry, the latter’s mood and representation of landscapes.
This exhaustive display presents outstanding works from József Egry’s entire oeuvre, from the early years to the very end of his creative life.
Related programs
The Art of József Egry - Series of presentations on the diverse art of József Egry (in Hungarian).