Béla Czóbel (Budapest 1883 - Budapest 1976) - Lot 219

Béla Czóbel (Budapest 1883 - Budapest 1976) Béla Czóbel is a Hungarian painter recognized as one of the major figures of twentieth-century Hungarian painting, and a leading exponent of the École de Paris and the Avant-garde. From 1902, he joined the Nagybanya painters' colony, founded and directed by Károly Ferenczy (1862-1917). During this period, he studied and perfected his skills with Béla Iványi-Grünwald (1867-1940), a Hungarian painter and one of the founders of the Nagybánya painters' colony. The following year, he studied at the Munich Academy with Julius Diez (1870-1957) and Ludwig von Herterich (1856-1932). There he met Jules Pascin, Rudolf Levy and Walter Bondy. Inspired by Rippl-Rónai's example, Czóbel moved to Paris in 1903, initially staying at the Hôtel du Danemark in Montparnasse. He enrolled at the Académie Julian and studied with Jean-Paul Laurens. Taking part in the Fauve movement, Czóbel exhibited alongside Derain, Vlaminck, Braque and Matisse at the Salon d'Automne in 1905. This exhibition established his reputation in France, where he exhibited with Henri Matisse and Georges Braque. His affinity with Fauvism reached a peak when he used the vivid, almost pure colors characteristic of this movement. In 1909 in Paris, he joined the avant-garde group known as the "Eight". In the same year, he returned to Hungary to disseminate his knowledge and French artistic trends, particularly the influence of the Fauves. During the First World War, Czóbel moved to Bergen, then to Berlin in 1925, before returning to France. He mainly painted portraits and female nudes. His palette was mostly tinted with warm colors. He also painted views of Paris, Montparnasse and Montmartre. Finally, he did not give in to the imposing arrival of abstraction and remained faithful to Fauvism, his palette being a true testament to his talents as a colorist. Béla Czóbel took an active part in the exhibitions of his time, notably at the Salon des Indépendants from 1910 to 1930, the Galerie Druet and the Galerie Berthe Weill. During his lifetime, he regularly exhibited at the Mücsarnok (Budapest Exhibition Centre) and the Ernst Gallery in Budapest. Today, Béla Adalbert Czóbel's works can be found in museums such as the Béla Adalbert Czóbel Museum in Szentendre, the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest and the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris.