Végvári Lajos: Szalay Lajos (Miskolc, 1990)

tions of Beaudelaire's and Villon's poems. For his pedagogic activity he was called „Father of the Argentine Graphics". In the second term of the fifties a political campaign of the left was launched against him especially for his graphics in an album called „SOS Hungary" in 1956 at the time of Hungarian Revolution. His position in this country, where he felt so well and which language he had learnt easily, became unbearable. He moved and settled in New York city. That was where he created his principal work of art, the „Genesis", one of the most extensive and precious graphics of biblical texts. The graphics didn't achieve success in the USA. The explication is probably on one side the awkwardness of the editor, but on the other side the incapability of Szalay to accept the artistic world of North America. He stayed to European and catholic. Some critics however discovered the extreme values of Szalay's art as they named him „the finest master of graphic art" reporting the appreciation of Picasso. His style was not popular in this country inspite of his modernity and individuality it seemed foreign. His philosophic principal based on nature was very different of the American artistic ideas. The great and real success of the „Genesis" arrived with the Hungarian edition. One could not find a Hungarian artist prised more, whom the artistic papers and magazines had written as frequently. Before the publication of his album of graphics Szalay returned at several occasions in his country, had taken part at competitions. At the „Dózsa" exhibition, his artifact was the most significant. In 1972 his works were exhibited in the Hungarian National Gallery at Budapest, later in his town, Miskolc. From this time he passed his summer holidays at Miskolc-Tapolca as a guest of Miskolccity. Although his home was still New York, later for 1 year Paris, he carried orders from Hungarian editors. The illustrations for an antique Hungarian poem of the XlVth. century: „The Lamentations of the Holy Virgin Mary" are staggering. His formerly classmate and friend professor Gy. László famous archéologue wrote: „The real ideas of Szalay concerning the „Antique Lamentations of the Holy Virgin" are reflected in his drawings; he created the tortured lines". He made illustrations with a light hand for the anthology of the poet Babits „ Erato". One of the important stations of his art are a collection of the illustrations of Kafka's novels. Under the influence of this task his style of drawing changed slightly. The modification of his graphic-style consisted to apply with the lines large patches of tonality; to show the demonity and absurdity in Kafka's everyday life. In a great number of graphics Szalay protests against the atrocities of the war and the cruelty of the tyrants. Some of his artistic drawings have as subject the misuse of atomic-power but he recognises the peaceful use of it. For the whole of Szalay's oeuvre it is important to know his interviews, his declarations given in a selected language.