“Not only did we try to displace reality; reality was no longer in the object. Reality was in the painting.” Pablo Picasso

The works of Vilmos Aba-Novák are instantly recognizable thanks to his distinctive style. He applied his colours to the canvas with unparalleled freshness and virtuosity. His art was shaped primarily by his studies in Hungary and his study trips to Italy; he never lived in Paris, yet it is fascinating to note the parallels in how he breaks down the depicted landscapes and robust human figures in his paintings into (colour) planes.

Aba-Novák created numerous large-scale murals throughout the country, including the fresco on the Gate of Heroes in Szeged, commemorating the heroes of World War I, in 1936. The following year at the Paris World Exposition, the painter won the Grand Prize for his grandiose board-painting depicting Franco-Hungarian historical ties. Picasso’s Guernica also made its debut at the World Exposition at the same time. According to a widely cited legend, upon seeing Aba-Novák’s mural, Picasso exclaimed, “Who is this barbarian genius?”