More than a Muse
More than a Muse
Béla Czóbel and Women
15 November 2026 – 2 January 2028
In Béla Czóbel’s art, the female figure appears primarily as a source of inspiration—as an inactive subject of painting. Although the personality and character of some of the models piqued the painter’s interest, and he named them in the titles, the others have remained unidentified. Although his two wives, Isolde Czóbel and Mária Modok, as well as his daughter, Lisa Czóbel Bergeest, are known to feature in many of his drawings and paintings, Isolde’s name appears on only one nude. This exhibition gives this anonymous presence not only substance but also a face, and sheds more light on his family members’ work in fine arts, fashion design and dance, which was every bit as significant as his own. The display adds nuance to what we know of the Béla Czóbel’s life, and also offers a glimpse into the intricate relationship dynamics of his marriages. In this regard, we are helped by family photographs and documents from Mimi Kratochwill’s carefully preserved Czóbel archive, suggesting that there is more to the story than the myth of the passive muse.
The exhibition opens with paintings and drawings Czóbel made in Nagybánya (Baia Mare, Romania), the Netherlands and Berlin, which are complemented by photographs that mark milestones in the lives of his first wife, Isolde Daig, and their daughter, Lisa Czóbel. Portraits, floral still lifes and unusual urban views, as well as the couple’s photo album, allow us to trace Mária Modok’s early career and her years in Szentendre as the second wife of the painter. We must also remember Mimi Kratochwill, who was not only a model and a caring friend to the painter but, as his monographer, also laid the foundations for the highly appreciative reception of his work in Hungary and abroad. Finally, in the side wing, we turn to the essence of the painterly method that was central to Czóbel’s complex relationship with women. A curated selection from his hundreds of nude drawings and portraits of women offers a glimpse into the artist’s informal, intimate creative process.