RIPPL-RÓNAI, THE “HUNGARIAN NABI” AND FRIENDS: AN IMPECCABLE EXHIBITION
RIPPL-RÓNAI, THE “HUNGARIAN NABI” AND FRIENDS: AN IMPECCABLE EXHIBITION

Summary/Abstract: Historically, the international acknowledgment of Hungarian artists has been regrettably poor. There have been attempts, from time to time, to remedy this situation – I myself have spent decades pursuing this painstaking enterprise – but the effect of the often thrilling results will not hold for long unless we manage to ensure regular appearance and representation at the venues once a foothold has been established. Barring a precious few exceptions, publications in foreign languages treating the periods and outstanding works of Hungarian art history are few and far between, or have yet to be written, despite a pressing need for them both in Hungary and abroad. The picture is somewhat brighter with the in-depth, multilingual catalogues accompanying major exhibitions that show Hungary can match world-class publication standards. Although foreign peer institutions routinely borrow some of the most famous works of Hungarian museums, the exhibitions featuring them often fail to shed light on in the history of Hungarian art that gave rise to them in the first place. Works not shown in the proper context will be less comprehensible for foreign audiences and even to the domestic visitor. Here in Hungary, the year 1990 marked the first successful realization of a large-scale monographic exhibition which provided the proper context by also featuring works, some borrowed from abroad, by the main artist’s masters, peer painters, friends and acquaintances. This was the exhibition hosted by the Hungarian National Gallery entitled Pál Szinyei Merse and his Circle.

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