Károly Kernstok

In the early twentieth century, he was known for being among the leading groups of Hungarian painters known as the "Neos" and The Eight (1909–1918), before the First World War.

Later he painted scenes of peasant life, often in bold and glowing colours related to the Fauvist movement in France.

Some had studied briefly at Nagybánya, but they were influenced by the French painters, particularly Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse.

[1] The Eight embraced the radical intellectual movements in the early 20th century, which was reflected in Budapest in both literature and music.

They worked with the rationalism of cubists, the decorative use of strong color as seen in the Fauves, and the emotional depth of German Expressionism.

[1] Kernstok's Nude Male Leaning against a Tree (1911) showed the influence of the Fauvists in his use of brilliant color.

[2] In the last period of his life, Kernstok became interested in Etruscan painting, and completed The Rape of St. Helen (1933) and Burial (1934).

During the Soviet period in Hungary following World War II, his work was celebrated for his paintings of peasants and workers.