Famous Hungarian Artists

Hungarian artist Istvan Csok created lively landscapes and intimate nudes. The artist cherished youth and beauty as well as settings of the Magyar countryside. Among his notable artworks is Gathering Hay, depicting a group of young peasants preparing lunch among freshly mowed grass.

Hungarian artist Bela Ivanyi-Grunwald was a leading member of the Nagybanya Artist Colony, a school to modernize Hungarian art. The artist experimented with French naturalism, Baroque, modern Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. Among his most notable paintings is The Shepherd and Peasant Woman. In his final years, the painter created plentiful still lifes and Gypsy portraits.

Hungarian artist Tivadar Csontvary Kosztka was an artist who was a notable representative of the avant-garde movement. He painted in the post-impressionist and expressionist styles. Among his most notable artworks is the Lonely Cedar, depicting a windblown tree standing in solitude, dominating the landscape beneath a washed-up backdrop of sky. Many acclaimed his imaginative style.

Hungarian artist Karoly Lotz was known for painting romantic landscapes. He created Renaissance-style artwork. The artist was also inspired by Greek mythology. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and later continued his studies in Paris. Lotz is associated with the Romantic and Realist movements. Among his most notable paintings are "The Arrival of the Huns" and "The Battle of Mohács." He became one of the most celebrated artists of his time.

Hungarian artist Pal Szinyei Merse was part of the plein air movement. He created illustrations of the bright outdoors using intense colors. He created many artworks, and among his most notable pieces is Picnic in May (pictured above), featuring a cheerful alfresco scene with a group of colorfully dressed men and women.

Hungarian artist Geza Meszoly was known for his artworks of countryside settings. He was a 19th-century landscape painter. The painter spent a lot of time in outside settings in Hungary from early spring to late autumn. Meszoly embodies the plein air movement. Among his most notable artworks is Lido, an avant-garde piece revolving around the unity of three key elements: the earth, the water, and the air.

Hungarian artist Mihaly Munkacsy was a widely acclaimed painter of a set of realistic representations. He gained fame by recreating scenes from peasant life, depicting weather-worn landscapes, and creating oversize Biblical artworks. Among his notable artworks is Woman Carrying Firewood, which depicts a drowsy woman broken down under a heavy load of thin branches on her back.

Hungarian artist Jozsef Rippl-Ronai was part of the post-impressionist and Art Nouveau styles in Hungary. Early success in his artwork came with the painting My Grandmother, depicting an old lady sitting amid a dimly lit interior. Many impressive artworks were created during his “black period,” a significant phase of his life when the painter was experimenting with darker shades, including the excessive use of gray and black. During this phase he created Woman with a Birdcage.

Hungarian artist Bertalan Szekely was born into a noble Transylvanian family. He was influenced by his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. The artist received an international award for his artwork The Escape of Emperor Charles VII. Among his most controversial artworks is Leda and the Swan. Szekely was also commissioned to create decorative murals in Matthias Church and in the Hungarian State Opera House.

Hungarian artist Janos Vasary was known for his dynamic strokes, vivid colors, and pulsating lights in his artworks, reflecting different styles such as French post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau, and the Nagybanya plein air movement. Among his most noted artworks are Woman with Black Hair, depicting a young Parisian lady, and Golden Age, creating heavenly scenes.