Berény Róbert

Key facts

Lived

1887–1953, Hungarian^[1]

Movements

• Expressionism
• Fauvism

^[1]

Works held in

1 museum

Wikipedia

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• What is Berény Róbert known for?+

  Berény Róbert is known for being one of the most internationally orientated members of the group, The Eight. His 1913^[1] portrait of composer Béla Bartók is among his most admired works.
• What is Berény Róbert's most famous work?+

  Berény Róbert is best known for his painting *Sleeping Lady with Black Vase*. The work gained considerable attention when it was rediscovered and sold at auction for a high price in 2005. Berény, born in Budapest in 1887^[1], was a significant figure in the Hungarian^[1] avant-garde movement. He was a founding member of the Group of Eight, a collective of artists who introduced cubist and expressionist styles to Hungary. His artistic output included portraits, nudes, and abstract compositions. He also designed posters and stage sets. *Sleeping Lady with Black Vase* is considered one of his most important works, representing a fusion of modern styles with a distinctive Hungarian sensibility. Berény's other notable works include *Self-Portrait* (1913^[1]) and *Portrait of Lajos Kassák* (1927). He taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest from 1945 until his death in 1953^[1].
• What should I know about Berény Róbert's prints?+

  When considering prints, it is important to understand the terminology. An "original print" is one conceived as a print, executed solely as a print, and usually part of a numbered, signed edition. Each impression in the edition is an original, produced from a plate, stone, screen, or block created for that purpose. The artist inks and pulls each print individually; it is a "multi-original" medium. A reproduction is a copy of a work originally created in another medium, such as painting. It is usually made by photomechanical means. Numbering or signing a reproduction does not change its essence: it remains a copy, not an original print. There is no legal definition of an "original print" in Canada. However, the Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada (PADAC) has its own definition, accepted by major arts organisations in the country.
• What style or movement did Berény Róbert belong to?+

  Berény Róbert (1887^[1]-1953^[1]) was associated with several early twentieth-century avant-garde movements. These included Fauvism, Expressionism^[1], and Cubism. These movements arose in the early 1900s, following on from the work of Post-Impressionist artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. Fauvism, which emerged around 1905^[1] in France, was characterised by its bold use of colour and simplified design. The Fauves, or 'wild beasts' as they were labelled by a critic, used unrealistic colours and broad brushstrokes to create a decorative and expressive effect. Henri Matisse led this group. Expressionism, which developed in Germany, also used colour emphatically, but aimed to convey inner emotions and subjective experiences. Die Brücke (The Bridge), a prominent Expressionist group active from 1905 to 1913, explored themes of alienation and social fragmentation through emotion-charged images and simplified forms. Cubism, originating around 1907, involved the interplay of abstract forms and recognisable images.
• What techniques or materials did Berény Róbert use?+

  Without specific information about Berény Róbert's methods, one can discuss general painting techniques. Oil paint consists of pigment mixed with a drying oil, such as linseed. The oil acts as a binder. Various methods exist for preparing the support, typically canvas or wood. Priming creates a suitable surface. This may involve applying a ground layer of gesso, composed of gypsum and animal glue, or chalk and animal skin glue. The artist may then sketch the composition onto the prepared surface with paint or charcoal. Application techniques vary. Some artists apply thin washes of colour, while others use thick impasto. Glazes, thin transparent layers of paint, can modulate colour effects. The artist may use brushes, painting knives, or even fingers. Some artists build up colour through many layers; others prefer a direct, single-layer approach. Experimentation with materials and methods has always been common. In the eighteenth century, for example, "eludoric painting" involved painting in oil under water.
• What was Berény Róbert known for?+

  Berény Róbert (1887^[1]-1953^[1]) was a Hungarian^[1] painter associated with several early twentieth-century avant-garde movements. Around 1905^[1], new art movements began to appear in Europe, marking a departure from the established academies. One such movement, Fauvism^[1], emerged in France. The Fauves, including Henri Matisse, used bright colours and simple designs. Critics called them "Wild Beasts" because their paintings were unrealistic and free. The Fauves built upon the ideas of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, using colour in a more daring way. They also employed broad shapes and lively lines. Later, Cubism gained prominence. Cubism balanced abstract forms with recognisable images. Artists such as Picasso and Braque explored new possibilities within the style. Later Cubists, like Gleizes and Metzinger, moved towards a more systematic approach. Other artists, including Delaunay and Kupka, shifted away from Cubism's static phase. They chose to emphasise movement through graphic techniques and the kinetic potential of colour.
• When did Berény Róbert live and work?+

  Berény Róbert (1887^[1]-1953^[1]) was a Hungarian^[1] painter and graphic artist. He was a member of The Eight, an avant-garde group that brought cubist and expressionist ideas to Hungarian art. Berény was born in Budapest. He studied at the Académie Julian in Paris from 1905^[1] to 1907. His early work shows the influence of French post-impressionism. After his time in Paris, Berény returned to Hungary. There, he became a central figure in the development of modern art. The Eight, active from 1909 to 1918, included artists such as Károly Kernstok and Lajos Tihanyi. Berény's posters and paintings from this period often addressed social and political issues. He also experimented with abstract forms. Following the First World War and the collapse of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919, Berény emigrated to Berlin. He worked as a graphic designer and painter. He returned to Budapest in 1926, where he continued to paint, teach, and exhibit his work until his death. His later work moved towards a more representational style, including portraits and figure studies.
• Where can I see Berény Róbert's work?+

  Museums and galleries around the world exhibit works by artists. These include: the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia); Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique (Brussels); Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna); Österreichische Galerie (Vienna); Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Antwerp); Memlingmuseum Het Sint-Janshospitaal (Bruges); Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto); Narodni Galerie (Prague); Skagens Museum (Skagen, Denmark); Musée National Fernand Léger (Biot, France); Musée Condé (Chantilly, France); Musée d’Unterlinden (Colmar, France); Chateau de Fontainebleau (Fontainebleau, France); Musée Fabre (Montpellier, France); Musée des Beaux-Arts (Nantes, France); Bibliotheque Nationale, Centre National des Arts Plastiques, Musée Bourdelle, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Musée de l’Orangerie, Musée d’Orsay, and Musée du Louvre (all in Paris, France); Rijksmuseum Kréller-Miller (Otterlo, Netherlands); Museum Boymans-van Beuningen (Rotterdam, Netherlands); Nasjonalgalleriet (Oslo, Norway); Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lisbon, Portugal); Muzeul de Arta (Craiova, Romania); Tretyakov Gallery and Hermitage Museum (Russia); Museo de Bellas Artes, Fundacién Coleccion Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid, Spain); Offentliche Kunstsammlung Kunstmuseum Basel and Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (Switzerland); Towneley Hall Art Gallery (Burnley, UK); The Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, UK); National Museum of Wales (Cardiff, UK); National Gallery of Scotland and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Edinburgh, UK); The Burrell Collection (Glasgow, UK); Jersey Museum and Art Gallery (St Helier, UK); and Leeds City Art Gallery (Leeds, UK).
• Where was Berény Róbert from?+

  Berény Róbert was a Hungarian^[1] painter and graphic artist. He was born in Budapest in 1887^[1]. Budapest was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He died there in 1953^[1]. Berény is associated with the group of Hungarian painters called "The Eight" (A Nyolcak). This was an avant-garde movement at the beginning of the 20th century. Other members included Czóbel Béla, Kernstok Károly, and Tihanyi Lajos. They were inspired by French Post-Impressionism and Fauvism^[1]. Berény studied art in Budapest. He also studied in Paris at the Académie Julian. Later, he travelled extensively in Europe. He returned to Hungary and became an important figure in its artistic community. He taught at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts from 1945^[1]. His work includes portraits, posters, and paintings.
• Who did Berény Róbert influence?+

  It is difficult to say precisely who Berény Róbert influenced. However, considering the artistic environment of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some context can be provided. The "Munich Realism" movement, with its emphasis on colour and light, gained traction. This movement looked to earlier Dutch masters such as Hals and Rembrandt. These artists offered a fresh direction through their techniques. The Polish artist Stanisław Lentz, educated in Munich and Paris, was called the "Polish Hals" by critics. Lentz studied Old Masters during travels to Holland between 1905^[1] and 1914. He adopted an energetic brushstroke and a monochromatic palette from them. Hals's influence is apparent in Lentz's paint application, colour choices, accessories, gestures, and poses in his portraits and genre scenes.
• Who influenced Berény Róbert?+

  Many artists influenced Mark Rothko. Rothko met Milton Avery around 1928^[1]; Avery's studio was open to younger artists, and Rothko visited almost daily. Avery's accessibility and willingness to engage in dialogue provided a refreshing change from student-teacher relationships. Rothko delivered a moving eulogy upon Avery's death in 1965, indicating Avery's importance. Rothko painted figures in interiors, domestic and seaside scenes, in a manner reminiscent of Avery. Avery's precisely delineated, Matisse-derived flattened form and soft colour became integral parts of Rothko's style. Other artists, such as Pollock, de Kooning and Rothko, became mentors. Gorky's work was very important; seeing *Agony* and *The Liver Is the Cock's Comb* in Gorky's 1951 exhibition impressed Rothko enormously. Pollock's painting made Rothko want to investigate and understand his work and his methods. He wondered how the Old Masters, Cubists, Manet, Monet, Miro, Gorky or Pollock made their paintings; he wanted to understand them, and take it from there.
• Who was Berény Róbert?+

  Róbert Berény (1887^[1]-1953^[1]) was a Hungarian^[1] painter associated with the avant-garde group The Eight. He was born in Budapest, and he studied art there before travelling to Paris. Berény's time in Paris exposed him to new artistic currents. He developed a style influenced by cubism and expressionism. These interests aligned him with The Eight, who sought to introduce modernism to Hungarian art. His work from this period included portraits and nudes, often with a strong sense of colour and form. After the First World War, Berény taught in Budapest. He continued to paint, but also worked as a graphic designer and stage designer. His work moved away from his earlier avant-garde style. Berény died in Budapest in 1953^[1].