William Penn Life, 2010 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-09-01 / 9. szám
ence was still apparent. Sadly, I did not get to see the studio in which they worked together. The house, which the sisters shared with Emilie and her husband, physician Roland T. de Hellebranth, was a virtual museum of their art, antiques and all things Hungarian. Bertha and Elena became American citizens in the 1940s and thoroughly loved America. However, they remained devoted to Hungary, their homeland. Elena said, "you could say that while we are Americans, the Hungarian blood still boils through us." This was certainly evident in much of their art and their allegiance. Following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the sisters organized relief efforts for Hungarians, sending much-needed shipments of clothing and food back home. In spite of what we know about their lives, their activities and their work, many questions remain unanswered. Why did the family choose to settle in the Atlantic City area when they came to America rather than New York, which was the hub of the art world? What became of the rest of their art work and what did it look like? The works that the Foundation owns represent their work from the 1920s through the 1940s. We know from museum exhibition records that they continued to paint, sculpt and show their work throughout the 1950s and 60s and perhaps even longer. Did the style and subject of their art change over time? Why were there no examples of their later works in their home? With very few remaining family members and former students still living to answer these questions, much remains a mystery. Yet, their lives are an intriguing subject that would be worth further pursuing in the future. I really want to know more about these two Hungarian sisters who captivated New York society and the art world as well. Their story is a fascinating study of the accomplishments of two outstanding Hungarians in America. Patricia L. Fazekas is a curatorial consultant and former curator of the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation. William Penn Life ° LEFT: Oil portrait of Elena by Bertha, 1925. (Photo by Patricia Fazekas) BELOW: Sculpture of Christ by Bertha. (Photographer unknown) September 2010 0 17
