Perfect Balance - The Life's Work of Jenő Barcsay in a New Light
A major exhibition of the life's work of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in the framework of the 125th anniversary commemorative year of Barcsay
Perfect Balance - The Life's Work of Jenő Barcsay in a New Light
A major exhibition of the life's work of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in the framework of the 125th anniversary commemorative year of Barcsay
Venue: Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Barcsay Hall, Assembly Hall (1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 69-71.)
Opening: 16 July 2025, Wednesday, 18:00
The exhibition is open from 17 July to 27 September 2025, Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00.
The Hungarian University of Fine Arts pays tribute to Jenő Barcsay, who was born 125 years ago, with a special exhibition of his life's work. The exhibition entitled Perfect Balance - The Life's Work of Jenő Barcsay in a New Light presents the artist's rich oeuvre and puts his art in a fresh perspective.
In addition to the many sensational newly discovered Barcsay works, the artist's exhibition of his life's work includes the master's famous mosaic art, original drawings from the book that made his international success, Anatomy for the Artist, and a glimpse into the world of his non-figurative painting. Barcsay's art is one of the important pillars of 20th century Hungarian art, with a particular emphasis on anatomy, formal abstraction and the depiction of nature and visible reality.
Jenő Barcsay and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts
The life and work of Jenő Barcsay (1900-1988) is closely intertwined with the history of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts: the young, Transylvanian-born Barcsay began his studies at the University of Fine Arts in the autumn of 1921 in the class of János Vaszary, and completed them in 1926 under the guidance of Gyula Rudnay. In 1945 he returned to the institution as a lecturer, where he taught a long line of generations of artists in visual scepticism and anatomy until his retirement in 1975. During his decades-long career as an artist and teacher, he radically transformed pedagogical methods and had a significant impact on artistic expression.
Women - on public view for the first time in 60 years
The University of Fine Arts' exhibition of Barcsay's monumental charcoal painting Women, one of the highlights of the jubilee year, is the first to be shown to the public after 60 years in abeyance. The 21-square-metre work was created in 1964 and is a forerunner of the Barcsay Cinema at the Miskolc Heavy Engineering Technical University. The unique drawing was made by the artist when he was teaching anatomy at the College of Fine Arts.
Barcsay and Bammes - Two master teachers in one exhibition
Another special feature of the exhibition is that, in addition to Barcsay's works, you can also admire the works of the German Gottfried Bammes, professor of artistic anatomy. Through the work of Barcsay and Bammes, visitors will be able to take a look at the world of artistic anatomy from two different perspectives, tracing how the two masters transformed the teaching of anatomy.
The 80 works of art and documents in the Barcsay exhibition have been compiled from public and private collections of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.
The Barcsay exhibition is jointly organised by the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and the Ferenczy Museum Centre in Szentendre, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation.
Curators
Dr. Anikó Bojtos, art historian, Assistant Professor at the Department of Art History, MKE;
Dr. János Sturcz, art historian, lecturer at the Department of Art History, MKE;
Noémi Szabó, art historian, curator of the Ferenczy Museum Centre
The professional director of the Barcsay 125th anniversary is Dr. Ildikó Fehér, art historian, HUFA.
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Perfect Balance – The Life’s Work of Jenő Barcsay in a New Light
A major exhibition showcasing the life's work of Jenő Barcsay will be held as part of the 125th anniversary commemorative year at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.
Venue: Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Barcsay Hall, Assembly Hall (1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 69–71)
Opening: Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 18:00
Exhibition open: 17 July – 27 September 2025, Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00
To mark the 125th anniversary of Jenő Barcsay’s birth, the Hungarian University of Fine Arts presents a special exhibition honouring his life's work. Titled Perfect Balance – The Life’s Work of Jenő Barcsay in a New Light, the exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the artist’s rich oeuvre and reinterprets his legacy from a contemporary perspective.
Alongside newly discovered and never-before-seen works, the exhibition highlights Barcsay’s renowned mosaics, original drawings from his internationally acclaimed book Anatomy for the Artist, and his exploration of non-figurative painting. His contribution to 20th-century Hungarian art remains pivotal, especially in the fields of anatomical study, abstract form, and the depiction of nature and visible reality.
Jenő Barcsay and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts
Jenő Barcsay (1900–1988), born in Transylvania, began his studies at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in 1921 in János Vaszary’s class, graduating in 1926 under Gyula Rudnay. He returned to the university in 1945 as a professor, where he taught generations of students in visual analysis and anatomy until his retirement in 1975. Over the decades, he revolutionised artistic pedagogy and left a lasting imprint on the visual arts in Hungary.
Women – On Public Display for the First Time in 60 Years
One of the highlights of the exhibition is Women, a monumental 21-square-meter charcoal drawing created by Barcsay in 1964. Displayed for the first time in six decades, this major work predates the Barcsay Cinema mural at the Miskolc University of Heavy Industry and was created while he was teaching anatomy at the College of Fine Arts.
Barcsay and Bammes – Two Masters of Artistic Anatomy
A unique feature of the exhibition is the inclusion of works by German professor of artistic anatomy, Gottfried Bammes. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore how both Barcsay and Bammes shaped the teaching of anatomy through their distinctive approaches, offering insight into two influential artistic anatomists side by side.
The exhibition features 80 artworks and documents, drawn from both public and private collections associated with the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.
Organised jointly by the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and the Ferenczy Museum Centre in Szentendre, the exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation.
Curators
- Dr. Anikó Bojtos, art historian, Assistant Professor, Department of Art History, HUFA
- Dr. János Sturcz, art historian, Lecturer, Department of Art History, HUFA
- Noémi Szabó, art historian, Curator, Ferenczy Museum Centre
Professional Director of the Barcsay 125th Anniversary:
Dr. Ildikó Fehér, art historian
