National Museum Honors Legendary Photographer with Dedicated Bench
The Hungarian National Museum recently marked the 130th anniversary of world-renowned photographer André Kertész with a series of special exhibitions. To wrap up the commemorative year, the museum unveiled a dedicated bench in the Museum Garden to honor his legacy, as per a recent press release from the National Museum.
The bench, featured in one of Kertész’s iconic photographs, now showcases a plaque in remembrance of the legendary Hungarian artist. The museum reiterated its commitment to preserving Kertész’s memory and recognizing his significant impact on documentary photography.
During the bench dedication ceremony, Matthieu Berton, Director of the French Institute, paid tribute to Kertész on World Emigrants’ Day, acknowledging the photographer’s journey as an emigrant. Berton highlighted Kertész’s arrival in Paris at the age of 31 and how it played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic career.
“One of his most notable works includes his photographs of the French capital, reflecting his poetic vision and deep affection for the city,” noted Berton.
Dr. Éva Fisli, a museologist, made an intriguing discovery concerning a Kertész photograph captured between 1912 and 1922, featuring the Museum Garden. The image, showcasing a Roman sarcophagus standing during the early 1920s, symbolizes a transformative period for Kertész as he transitioned from an amateur to a professional photographer.
The museum’s tribute serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Kertész’s work on both Hungarian and global photographic arts.
André Kertész, born in 1894 and passing away in 1985, is renowned for his pioneering contributions to documentary photography. Originating from Hungary, Kertész relocated to Paris in 1925, where his emotive compositions and distinctive perspectives garnered widespread acclaim. Throughout his six-decade-long career, spanning various countries including the United States, Kertész’s fusion of poetic vision and modernist experimentation left a lasting legacy in the world of photography.
Through these initiatives and acknowledgments, the Hungarian National Museum continues to celebrate and preserve the rich artistic heritage of André Kertész.
