The Desired Masterpiece

Béla Gruber (1936-1963) was a prominent talent in Hungarian painting who died very young. His innovative creative methods had a significant impact on his contemporaries; in his figurative works he combined various techniques ranging from charcoal drawings to collages and experiments with oil painting. The exhibition showcases the finest 26 works held at the Hungarian National Gallery: still lifes, portraits, a self-portrait, landscape and boat depictions that were created during the period leading up to his diploma and in the year before his death in the sanatorium. Supplementary materials selected from documents and photographs from the artist's sister reveal insights into Gruber Bla's personality, shedding light on the fate of his family and bringing the viewer closer to understanding him.