Where to See Egry József

When considering Egry József's prints, it is useful to know some basic print terminology. An "original print" is made by hand by the artist, using techniques such as woodcut, engraving, linocut, etching, or lithograph. The image is created specifically to be a print, with the artist working directly on the plate, block or screen. Each print is considered an original, and these are often sold through specialist galleries. A "reproduction" is a copy of a work originally created in another medium, such as a painting or watercolour. These are usually produced using photochemical means. Numbering or signing a reproduction does not make it an original print. Other types of prints include giclée prints, which are inkjet fine art prints, and canvas transfers, where the image is transferred onto canvas to resemble a painting. The Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada defines an original print as an image conceived by the artist as a print, executed solely as a print, usually in a numbered edition, and signed by the artist. Each print is made from a matrix created for that purpose, with each being individually inked and pulled.

It is difficult to name one single work as Egry József's most famous. He is best known for his paintings of Lake Balaton in Hungary, where he lived and worked for much of his life. Egry's style is characterised by its focus on light and atmosphere. He sought to capture the unique qualities of the Balaton region, often painting the lake at different times of day and in varying weather conditions. His works often feature a limited colour palette, with an emphasis on subtle tonal variations. While he painted other subjects, such as portraits and religious scenes, it is his Balaton paintings that have secured his place in Hungarian^[1] art history. These paintings are appreciated for their poetic and evocative qualities, and for their ability to capture the spirit of the Balaton region.

Egry József (1883^[1]-1951^[1]) was a Hungarian^[1] painter who worked primarily with watercolour and oil. He is best known for his depictions of Lake Balaton, a large freshwater lake in western Hungary. Egry studied law at first, then attended art school under Károly Ferenczy. Early in his career, he painted in a naturalistic style. He served on the Italian front during the First World War. The experience influenced his artistic style, which became more simplified and expressive. After the war, Egry settled in Badacsony, a town on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. The location became a central theme in his art. He painted the lake under varying light conditions and in different seasons. His paintings often feature a limited colour palette, emphasising the atmosphere and mood of the scene. He explored themes of solitude and the relationship between humans and nature. Egry's work moved toward a spiritual dimension. His later paintings are characterised by an increasing simplification of form and a focus on light. He received the Kossuth Prize in 1948^[1].

József Egry is known for his paintings of Lake Balaton. He devoted himself to capturing the lake's unique light, the shimmer off the water, the haze, and the dissolving colour toward midday.

Egry József developed a mixed oil-pastel method. This allowed him to capture light with a speed and directness that conventional oil painting resisted; critics at the time described his achievement as a new interpretation of naturalism.