Barki Gergely et al.: Czóbel. A French Hungarian painter - ArtMill publications 5. (Szentendre, 2014)
Gergely Barki: Czóbel from Paris to Paris 1903-1925
79. BÉLA CZÓBEL WITH HIS FAMILY IN MОNTMORENCYJ911. Postcard, private collection from 1908 have turned up (Plates 77 and 78). It is highly probable that they were the works presented at the Kálmán Könyves Salon and on Bölöni’s travelling display. Although József Rippl-Rónai bore hard feelings towards the young company, because they split from MIÉNK (the Circle of Hungarian Impressionist and Naturalists) without his knowledge, he still took a peek at their exhibition. According to Elek Petrovics’ recollection, “He found much of note in the exhibition. It really interested him. He found Czóbel’s two still-lifes to be the most complete.”51 Czóbel’s third exhibited painting could very likely have been the Courtyard in Nyergesfalu (Plate 61), now held by the Janus Pannonius Museum, which was also produced well before 1909 - in 1907, on Kernstok’s estate.52 Among The Eight, Czóbel was the only one who did not personally appear at a single joint exhibition. He settled in France. It is symbolic that, during the group’s most important exhibition, organized at the National Salon [Nemzeti Szalon] in 1911, he moved with his family to Montmorency. He took part in neither arrangements that preceded The Eight’s exhibitions nor the accompanying events. We know of no letter, postcard or any document which refers to his relationship with the group at that time, nor anything in which they apprise him of occurrences - even though The Eight were truly united and communicated intensively with acquaintances and friends during that period, especially during exhibitions. Actually, Czóbel only maintained close relations with Károly Kernstok and Róbert Berény, and he preferred to meet them in pairs - although, naturally, he visited Kernstok in Nyerges as well. Thus, Czóbel played no role whatsoever in the life of the group. He joined - or, 51 Petrovics Elek: Fragmented notes on Szinyei, manuscript. Museum of Fine Arts, Library, Petrovics Records, Collection 1. Quoted in: Molnos, Péter: “Petrovics Elek (1873-1945) az ember. Kései kárpótlás egy elmaradt lakomáért [Elek Petrovics (1873- 1945), the Man. Late Compensation fora Cancelled Feast]”. In:“Emberek és nem frakkok" A magyar müvészettörténetírás nagy alakjai [“Men, not Tailcoats” Great Figures of Hungarian Art History Writing]. Essays, vol. 1. Csilla Markója and István Bardoly (eds). Enigma 47. Budapest: Meridian, 2007, p 239. 52 Ferenc Romváry’s report based on information received from the picture’s former owner, Dr. Antal Németh, given to Németh by the previous owner. Pécs, Janus Pannonius Museum Yearbook, 1967. Új szerzemények, 1. so. A park in Montmorency at the beginning of the twentieth century. Postcard, private collection 35 Montmorency — On eom du Pure CZÓBEL, A FRENCH HUNGARIAN PAINTER 62
