A new permanent André Kertész exhibition entitled André Kertész - The Sentimentalist opened on Wednesday at the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center in Szigetbecse.

It was once written about the Hungarian-born photographer Kertész's art that it was too detailed, but in the 21st century we can see that all this is the property of the greatest geniuses - said the Deputy Secretary of State responsible for public collections and cultural developments at the opening of the exhibition.

From today on, there are two places of pilgrimage, one in Szigetbecse and the other in the Robert Capa Center, where the pictures of this fantastic artist can be viewed.

The Capa Center is unique because there is no other cultural institution in the world that would present both world greats, Robert Capa and André Kertész, in a permanent exhibition - emphasized Orsolya Kőrösi, Executive Director of the Capa Center.

After the Capa exhibition opened in 2023, the renovated permanent André Kertész exhibition will allow the two photographers who knew, respected, loved each other, and worked together to be together again in worthy circumstances at the Capa Center in Budapest - she pointed out, adding: both were Hungarians, steadfast, unwavering, dedicated, and brave. But what truly unites them is not their style, but their immeasurable commitment to humanity.

Edina Sósné Michélisz, the mayor of Szigetbecse, recalled: Szigetbecse held a special place in André Kertész's life, he spent a lot of time with his relatives living there, the people and landscapes of Becse appear in his first photographs. Whenever he visited Hungary, he always visited Szigetbecse, the last time in March 1984 - she recalled.

She highlighted: the photographer was happy to accept the plan to have an old house in the village renovated for him for the purpose of an exhibition, he offered and sent 120 of his original, signed photographs to this museum. The selection includes not only photographs related to the settlement, but also well-known pieces of the artist's oeuvre - the mayor said, adding: the artist was not able to see the opening of the museum.

The Capa Center exhibition entitled André Kertész - The Sentimentalist - Selection from the Pictures Donated to Szigetbecse presents the artist's career along six thematic units.
The sections follow the timeline of the artist's life, and on the other hand, they provide a deeper insight into the life events and relationships that motivated and determined the artist, focusing on a specific life situation, person, motif or event.

The core material presenting the artist's copies is supplemented by digital prints of glass negatives selected from the Kertész archive donated to France by the artist. The exhibition is curated by Katalin Kopin.

The other important location in Kertész's carreer was Esztergom, where he was sent for treatment during World War One. It is in Esztergom, where he shot his groundbreaking picture called the Underwater Swimmer.

André Kertész: Underwater Swimmer, 1917, Esztergom

MTI/Budapest.com. Cover photo: MTI/Hegedüs Róbert