Pastel on brownish, structured pastel paper
Hungary/Germany, circa 1930
Béla Kádár (1877-1956) – important Hungarian artists of the 20th century
Signed ‘KADAR BELA’ lower right
Overall dimensions framed: 82 x 67 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Private Collection Lower Saxony
Kádár’s still lifes fetch over 29,000 euros at international auctions

Still lifes – in addition to groups of figures and nudes – were a preferred subject in the oeuvre of Hungarian artist Béla Kádár. The present drawing depicts an amaryllis in full bloom and the statuette of a bacchante, whose figure is accented by blonde hair and red lips; in her hand she holds a grape vine as an attribute. The composition is defined by vivid colors, integrating the brownish paper background. The pastel technique with soft smooth lines enhances Kádár’s work with a lyrical feel despite the classical composition and reduced formal language.



The work is in good condition. The corners of the sheet are professionally mounted on thin cardboard. The paper is slightly wavy. There is a tiny tear (approx. 3 mm) to the left on the upper margin. The upper right corner shows a small loss of paper which is backed on the verso. The work is signed ‘KADAR BELA’ lower right. The frame shows slight signs of wear. The framed work measures 82 x 67 cm, the sheet measures 64.7 x 49.7 cm.



Béla Kádár (1877-1956)

Béla Kádár started painting from an early age and studied at the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts. As early as 1906 he had an exhibition at the Hungarian National Gallery. After study trips to Paris and Berlin he left his home in 1918 to live in Germany and France. In 1923 Kádár and his first major solo exhibition in Herwarth Walden’s gallery ‘Der Sturm’ in Berlin and his works were published in the eponymous art journal. Kádár was influenced by the German expressionists, in particular by artists of the ‘Blauer Reiter’, but also inspired by various other contemporary tendencies. In the 1920s and early 30s, Béla Kádár showed his works in exhibitions in Budapest, Berlin, Philadelphia and New York.

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