Róbert Berény
Encyclopedia
Róbert Berény was a Hungarian
painter
, one of the avant-garde
group known as The Eight who introduced cubism
and expressionism
to Hungarian art.
. While there, he was particularly influenced by the power of Cézanne's art.
and cubism
, which he developed in association with the avant-garde
group known as The Eight, founded in Budapest in 1909. The young men were influenced by experiments in music and literature, as well. Berény's most important work of this early period is his portrait of the composer Béla Bartók
(1913). That year he also produced Scene, participated in the art life of the Hungarian Soviet Republic
, and was the leader of the department for painting in the Art Directorate.
After the fall of the republic in 1919, Berény emigrated to Berlin
, together with numerous other Hungarian artists and writers. In 1926 he returned to Hungary. After 1934, he worked in Zebegény
. He was awarded the Szinnyei Prize in 1936.
During the last year of World War II
, his workshop was destroyed, together with many of his works. He became a teacher in the Art School and died in 1953.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, one of the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
group known as The Eight who introduced cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
and expressionism
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
to Hungarian art.
Early life and education
Róbert Berény was born in Budapest in 1887. As a young man of 17, in 1904 he studied under the artist Tivadar Zemplényi for several months before moving to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. While there, he was particularly influenced by the power of Cézanne's art.
Career
Berény is best known for his form of expressionismExpressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
and cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
, which he developed in association with the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
group known as The Eight, founded in Budapest in 1909. The young men were influenced by experiments in music and literature, as well. Berény's most important work of this early period is his portrait of the composer Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
(1913). That year he also produced Scene, participated in the art life of the Hungarian Soviet Republic
Hungarian Soviet Republic
The Hungarian Soviet Republic or Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived Communist state established in Hungary in the aftermath of World War I....
, and was the leader of the department for painting in the Art Directorate.
After the fall of the republic in 1919, Berény emigrated to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, together with numerous other Hungarian artists and writers. In 1926 he returned to Hungary. After 1934, he worked in Zebegény
Zebegény
Zebegény is a picturesque historic town in Pest county, Hungary.It is located 60 km north of Budapest in the Danube Bend, next to the Duna-Ipoly National Park. It is a favourite destination for tourists, who love the quiet and the fresh air...
. He was awarded the Szinnyei Prize in 1936.
During the last year of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his workshop was destroyed, together with many of his works. He became a teacher in the Art School and died in 1953.
External links and sources
- "Róbert Berény", Fine Arts in Hungary