The other self-portrait
Self-portrait by Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka (oil on canvas, 55.5 × 45.5 cm, unsigned, Hungarian National Gallery, inv. no. 6585)
MúzeumCafé 16.
A colourful yet not particularly pleasing compilation could be put together of stories about the destruction or loss of outstanding Hungarian works of art – Vajda’s drawings left on a tram, the tribulations of Szobotka’s cubist paintings in Paris during World War I, or the suitcase unfortunately forgotten by Kassák in Vienna in 1926, which contained reproductions of all the copies of Ma published during the years of exile. Under circumstances which are still unclear, Csontváry’s masterpieces were obtained by a certain Bató, presumably from the Gács pharmacy’s former tenant Sándor Székely, who moved to the town of Kecskemét in 1919. Bató then sold them to Gedeon Gerlóczy. The following story, at least, has reached a satisfying conclusion. During research for a new study on Csontváry I happened to come across a black and white photograph in the Photograph Archives of the Hungarian National Gallery. The photograph shows a painting which was not included in any previous study about Csontváry, yet seemed to be one of his authentic early works. The information written on the reverse was quite astounding: the painting, earlier classified as a forgery, can be found in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery. As a questionable painting it was not included in the oeuvre catalogue, since an inspection undertaken in 1948 cast doubt on its authenticity. “Despite the fact the painting would deserve a more thorough investigation; regarding its style it can be classified as singular, thus it must be separated from the other paintings attributed to Csontváry.” I have been presented with the rare joy, the type of which means so much the discovery of another Csontváry.