Barki Gergely et al.: Czóbel. A French Hungarian painter - ArtMill publications 5. (Szentendre, 2014)

Mimi Kratochwill: Béla Czóbel's mature period, 1925-1976

269. Béla Czóbel: Breton Peasant, 1931. Debrecen, Antal-Lusztig Collection

But everything turned out well in the end. In Paris I had bought 50 francs worth of liras, though a twenty-lira note was out of use, thus I was left with little money [...].1° I left the two pictures with instructions with your brother-in-law and the next day I was already in Szentendre. I will only be going to Pest today - I will give more instructions later. According to Hatv[any], one should get 5- 6000 p (Hungarian pengő) for the P., and you need to contact Bandi Ernst. I will tell him all about this. I gave him the things that were discussed, too. Please act as we had agreed and arrange the Place d’ltalie C.h.d. 44823, as well as the Mr Jacopin affair, for which I am obliged to you. The food packed by the madame for the journey was very tasty. I am forever grateful for your kindness. I have already started painting a little. The place is beautiful, the trees are in bud, though there will be little fruit since blossoms are only on the top of the trees, their having been ravaged by frost. I must say my goodbyes to you now, with a kiss of the hand and heartfelt regards, to your little girl, too. B[éla] Czóbel. Szt. Endre 26 April [19]40.”

10 I have been reading Béla Czóbel’s writings for many long years and unfortunately I have not been able to decipher everything, and that is why I have placed dots in some places. Ferenc Szántó was born in Szentendre and his relatives still lived there. Mr Jacopin rented the studio from him on Rue Barrault, and the artist presumably asked Szántó for help in regard to extending the lease.

BÉLA CZÓBEL’S MATURE PERIOD, 1925-1976

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