Barki Gergely et al.: Czóbel. A French Hungarian painter - ArtMill publications 5. (Szentendre, 2014)
László Jurecskó: Béla Czóbel in Nagybánya
л. Class picture in Nagybánya, 1903. Czóbel stands second from the right (marked no. 2). Private collection compositions in 1902.8This year also consolidated the free school’s position. The number of pupils did not decrease, and the proportion of those returning was significant.9 Evidence of this is provided by a photograph taken that year, in which (on the basis of its numbering) we are able to identify about half of the students present at the time (Plate 4). Czóbel - rather well-dressed, but still boyish in appearance - stands on the right surrounded by the ladies. In this picture, we can find, besides Károly Ferenczy, a few members of the so-called Nagybánya second generation, faithful followers of the plein air style (Samu Börtsök, Zoltán Jakab and Jenő Maticska), as well as those, besides Czóbel, who would later swell the ranks of the Neos’ camp (Géza Bornemisza, Sándor Galimberti and Vilmos Perlrott-Csaba). In 1903, everyone adopted the plein air painting style, and no one departed from it. In Czóbel’s development, we find a few movements away from his previous style. After the drawing stages of his first year, we know of several painting from this year. Contemporary critics - and latter ones as well - pointed out Károly Ferenczy’s influence on Czóbel’s early pictures.10 Generally, this typifies the judgement of Nagybánya. Everything and everyone was compared to Ferenczy. The other teachers faded into the background, and, with the exception of Grünwald, no one wished to deprive him of his role. Grünwald sought to attain Ferenczy’s style and its qualities, but he could not surpass him. His ambitions would not allow him any peace, so he was forced to find other stylistic criteria to replace Ferenczy’s synthetic colourism, something that would provide opportunities for a different kind of painting outcome. Identified by Károly Lyka as early as 1904, the “new academic style of Nagybánya”11 posed a genuine threat. In time, Nagybánya regulars (Mikola, Krizsán, Antónia Csíkos, Börtsök and PéterT. Rátz - later members of the Nagybánya Painters Association) would 8 n.a.]: “Képkiállítás [Picture Exhibition]”, Nagybánya és vidéke [Greater Nagybánya], 26 October 1902,28:43, p 3. A NAGYBÁNYAI I, p 306. “Grünwald Béla [Béla Grünwald]”, Nagybánya és vidéke [Greater Nagybánya], 25 January 1903, 29:4, p 2. A Nagybányai I, p 309. 3 While in 1902 the number of students in Nagybánya was 35, the next year 43 worked there, more than half of whom (22 students) also practiced the previous year. 10 Rózsa, Miklós: “Művészekrőlképekről [On Artists and Pictures]”, Budapesti Napló [Budapest Journal], 24 November 1904, p 3. Az Utak I, p 86. 11 Lyka Károly: “A Műcsarnokból. Az ifjúság [From the Art Hall. The Youths]”, Új idők [New Times], 27 November 1904,10:48, pp 531-532. A Nagybányai I, pp 366-367. BÉLA CZÓBEL IN NAGYBÁNYA 15
