Veszprémi Nóra - Szücs György szerk.: Borsos József festő és fotográfus (1821–1883) (A Magyar Nemzeti Galéria kiadványai 2009/4)

BORSOS JÓZSEF, A FESTŐ / JÓZSEF BORSOS THE PAINTER - A Foreword to the Catalogue

that feature at our exhibition in .As far as the art historical literature is concerned, we aimed at providing a full list of the references that are relevant to the catalogue entries. The results of locally conducted research have set the record straight on most of the anomalies arising from Béla Lázár and Jenő Kopp's earlier works, which occasionally contained inaccurate information regarding the specifics of 19th-century Viennese exhibitions. Wherever this was not the case, we have indicated that the information comes from Hungarian literature, rather than from a primary source. In connection with compositions in hiding, whose existence is known only by virtue of being mentioned in an exhibition catalogue, we cannot, of course, exclude the possibility that they are identical with some of the works available at least in reproduction - any such claims will have to be verified in the course of future research. We are aware of the fact that our catalogue does not include Borsos'complete oeuvre: he executed more works than we could admit to the catalogue on the basis of the above criteria. We are nevertheless of the opinion that our efforts to make a fresh start will clear the way towards the compilation of a broader catalogue later. It will not be possible to place the genuine works within Borsos'oeuvre until all the paintings, which have been attributed wrongly or on the basis of insufficient evidence, will have been weeded out. We have very little documentary evidence on Borsos as an artist: in his case, the expression that "the best way to get to know an artist is to study his works"is especially applicable. If this catalogue succeeds in painting a picture of Borsosthat is more coherent and more balanced than the previous ones, precisely because it portrays him with his true colours, then our work has been successful. Eszter Krisztina Aczél Eszter Békefi Zsuzsa Farkas Nóra Veszprémi