Barki Gergely et al.: Czóbel. A French Hungarian painter - ArtMill publications 5. (Szentendre, 2014)
Mimi Kratochwill: Béla Czóbel's mature period, 1925-1976
289. Béla Czóbel: Self-portrait with Pipe, around 1940. Private collection 290. Jean Cocteau opening the exhibition of the Hungarian artists in Le Cannet (Czóbel’s painting can be seen in the background), 1957. Private collection 291. The poster for Czóbel’s exhibition OF1975 in Geneva. The author’s photograph Czóbel had an exhibition planned to open in the Csók Gallery on 25 October 1956, with an opening speech by his friend, György Bölöni.The invitations, the catalogue and poster were ready, but the exhibition was cancelled because of the revolution. The works were transported to Paris by car and later displayed in the Parisian Zak Gallery, in February 1957. Picasso’s letter to Czóbel was printed on the invitation. Jean Cocteau organized the opening of the Exposition Artistes Hongrois de France, Hotel de Ville du Cannet in July 1957, in which Czóbel’s pictures were also featured. At the end of the year the Czóbels moved to Hotel Bloise at 50 Rue Vavin in Montparnasse, where they henceforth rented a room. It was in this hotel room that Mária Modok painted delicate, small interiors and still-lives, as well as the Cosmos Baron the corner of the street and its surroundings seen through their window. Czóbel, on the other hand, asked his old friend, Ferenc Szántó, if he could have the use of one of the attic flats in the neighbouring street (Rue Pegui) as a studio. It was here that he produced many paintings and drawings. In this period he painted several portraits of Frangoise Thurin, who worked in the Zak Gallery and who had given him substantial help in preparing for his exhibitions. She also managed the affairs pertaining to shows when the artist returned to Hungary. Mrs Thurin had originally trained to be an actress and was a very attractive and elegant lady. In one of his paintings of her, she is depicted with her head charmingly tilted a little, her somewhat melancholy personality reflected against the backdrop of ochres and reds and the bright white other blouse infusing her fine features with subtle tones (Plate 287). Czóbel liked to paint several pictures of his models, depicting them from various angles, and made study drawings of them to capture their well-known features and the subtle shifts in their personalities and moods. BELA CZÓBEL’S MATURE PERIOD, 1925-1976 179
