CONTINUING MEMORIES

The Past 1967-1978

Péter Korniss’ first photographs were taken in Transylvania, Hungary and the surrounding countries. During the 1960s and 1970s, despite the rigid political and economic circumstances, in certain regions of Eastern Europe several villages preserved their traditional peasant culture both in their everyday dress and their customs on festive occasions. In the 1970s a generation grew up in Hungary with no visual experience of this world, least of all of Transylvania, which at that time counted as a politically particularly sensitive region.
In the period between the two world wars in Hungarian photography traditional peasant culture became the main theme in the trend known as the “Hungarianizing” style. This popular trend gave an idealized picture of the peasant world both in its approach and its compositions.
It was this traditional world that Korniss wanted to show and preserve. Characteristic of his pictures is the artist’s strong emotional bond with his subjects, to whom he returned several times over the years in order to see how their lives were turning out.

These photographs were the subject of his first solo exhibition (Hall of Arts, Budapest, 1974) and his first books (Heaven’s Bridegroom, 1975; Passing Times, 1979).

2018-05-14

Related Objects ...

Girls in the Dance House, 1967
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print (2017) 40x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Young Men in the Dance House, 1967
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print (2017) 40x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

In the Dance House, 1967
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print (2017) 40x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Freshly Painted Room, 1969
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Szakmár, Hungary Silver gelatin print (2017) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Girl in a Headscarf, 1975
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Bixad, Romania Silver gelatin print 60x40 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Wedding Room, 1969
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Wedding Room, 1969 Silver gelatin print 59x40 cm

New Year’s Eve Ball, 1971
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Sâmbriaş, Romania Silver gelatin print (2017) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Wedding Dance with Cake, 1970
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Parade of Nativity Players, 1971
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Kakasd, Hungary Silver gelatin print (2017) 40x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Village School Children, 1973
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Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print 40,5x59 cm

Ploughing, 1977
(Museum of Fine Arts – Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest)

Veresegyház, Hungary Silver gelatin print 49x36,5 cm

Herdsman Driving his Cattle at Dawn, 1974
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print 44x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Weary Shepherd, 1971
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print 60x40 cmCourtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Girl Turning the Hay, 1974
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Viștea, Romania Silver gelatin print 60x46 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Working Side by Side, 1977
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Going Home with a Loaf, 1974
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Sic, Romania Silver gelatin print (2017) 60x40 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Hoeing, 1975
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Magyargéc, Hungary Silver gelatin print 55x39 cm

Old Married Couple, 1977
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Mera, Romania Silver gelatin print 37,5x49 cm

Shepherd Boy, 1975
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Groși, Romania Silver gelatin print 44,3x58,8 cm

Disabled War Veteran, 1976
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Women Harvesting, 1974
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Sic, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budape

Resting Haymaker, 1974
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Viștea, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016)60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Wedding Guests, 1971
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Viștea, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Open-air Mass, 1975
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Lespezi, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Girl in the Dance House, 1971
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Sic, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Woman Leaning on her Hoe, 1974
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Women at the Grave, 1973
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Sic, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Relatives of the Bride, 1971
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

Viștea, Romania Fuji Light inkjet (2016) 60x60 cm Courtesy of Várfok Gallery, Budapest

Room of the Laying Out, 1970
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

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Mourning, 1970
(Várfok Gallery, Budapest)

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“Ceaușescu
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