Gábor Eszter: Andrássy Avenue – Our Budapest (Budapest, 2002)
a department store. the more it would have Jarred with its environment..." wrote art historian Lajos Fülep about the Parisian Department Store in 1918. It should be mentioned, however, that Fülep condemned the entire architectural appearance of the avenue, and indeed Historicist architecture in general, as a fake, which should be rejected altogether. It is not on account of its architectural quality that the block at the corner of Liszt Ferenc tér has earned distinction, but the fact that on its ground floor, where the Writers Bookshop is today, there used to be the Japán Café, the second, if not indeed the first, home of many an artist and writer. In it stood the famous artists' table ruled over by Ödön Lechner and Pál Szinyei Merse surrounded by other modern artists accompanied by the art-lovers and sponsors wishing to rub shoulders with the great. Of the many recollections available about this circle, the one which gives perhaps the most colourful description is provided by the painter Lipót Hermann in his richly illustrated booklet Artists' Table (1958). "The artists' table at the Japan was behind the window looking onto Andrássy út to one óidé of the café I...1 It was perhaps Ödön Lechner who inóióted that the table be by a window towards Andrássy út. Though continuouóly busy translating his artist's dreams into architectural designs on the marble table-top. he would always keep an eye on the life of the street, the men. women and pretty girls passing by and the forever changing wonderful view in general. With his fine grey beard trimmed in the ■ The artists' table at the Japán Café. 13. In the foreground to the left is Pál Szinyei Merse. to the right József Rippl-Rónai (No. 45 Andrássy út) 27
