E. Csorba Csilla: A kamera poétája. Adré Kertész-fotó a Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum gyűjteményeiből (Budapest, 2019)
Korniss Péter: André Kertész kötődései / Péter Korniss: André Kertész’s Attachments
Kertész always took photographs of everything and everywhere - either on commission, for friendship or for his own pleasure. He found the space of photography in Paris that he had always searched for - creating while working and accomplishment with the opportunity. Paris was not confined for him. He received even more tempting propositions from America and Kertész moved to the New World. Yet it was a different world which awaited him. To demonstrate the difference I would remind you that the curator of an exhibition on the history of photography scheduled to be opened in New York in 1937 haggled with Kertész about cutting a famous picture of his series Distortions, which had earlier been published in a popular erotic magazine in Paris. He wanted to exhibit it, but thought that without the change it would be regarded as pornography. The person Kertész was arguing with was not just anybody - he was the curator of the New York Museum of Modern Art, Beaumont Newhall, a noted historian of photography. Kertész had some hard times in America, full of disappointment, bitterness and work he did because he was compelled to. 1964 signalled a turning point when the American high priest of photography, John Szarkowski, organised a solo exhibition of his work in the Museum of Modern Art in New York - with huge success. From then on everything changed, except his relationship with America. Kertész had earlier become an American citizen, but he never became an American photographer. However, France regarded him as its own. The Bibliothéque Nationale held an exhibition with the title Kertész at Home. Kertész presented a valuable collection to the French state, Paris presented a freehold apartment to Kertész. The mutual relationship was sealed. How do we Hungarians get into the story? We who also regard him as our own? I think the answer is very simple. André Kertész was attached to both countries strongly and deeply up to his death. He did not move back either to Paris or Hungary, but fortunately for us he lived a long life, which allowed him to visit his home country several times. He received much appreciation, love and recognition here, too. He was the guest of honour at the Budapest Spring Festival, an JOSEPH KADAR: ANDRÉ KERTÉSZ BEÖTHY-STEINER ANNA FESTŐMŰVÉSSZEL, PÁRIZS, 1980 / ANDRÉ KERTÉSZ WITH PAINTER ANNA BEÖTHY-STEINER, PARIS, 1980 ZSELATINOS EZÜST / GELATIN SILVER PRINT, VINTAGE, 26,2 x 14,5 CM, PIM, F.15591 11
