Operating within the iconic walls of Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery welcomes visitors again this year with exhibitions that open a window onto both the familiar and lesser-known worlds of Hungarian art, as well as the exciting history of international cultural relations. Three particularly noteworthy exhibitions from this year’s program take visitors on a kind of imaginary journey: from the sunny landscapes of Italy to the struggles of 20th-century female artists to a short but extraordinary life.

In spring, the exhibition Dolce vita – The Italian Experience in Two Centuries of Hungarian Art, opening on April 8, evokes a country that has been a source of inspiration for Hungarian artists for generations. The selection, spanning from the 19th century to contemporary works, shows how Italy became not only a destination, but also a recurring motif and spiritual home. Visitors can experience the atmosphere of Mediterranean light, seaside resorts, and city scenes through the works of Károly Markó, Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, Lajos Gulácsy, Vilmos Aba-Novák, János Vaszary, and László Fehér, among others. Vaszary’s painting depicting Rapallo, for example, evokes not only a place, but an entire way of life.

One of the most important events of the fall will be the exhibition Elhivatottak – Magyar képzőművésznők a 20. század első felében (The Dedicated – Hungarian Female Artists in the First Half of the 20th Century), which opens on October 15 and commemorates those artists who were able to build independent artistic careers despite numerous obstacles during a period of transformation. The exhibition sensitively shows how they emerged from invisibility and became defining figures in Hungarian art. Among the artists featured are Anna Margit, Noémi Ferenczy, Anna Lesznai, members of the Női Nyolcak (Women’s Eight) group, and the internationally renowned Judit Reigl.

Also opening in mid-October is the exhibition Brush and Camera: The Art of Amrita Sher-Gil (1913–1941), which presents the unique life story of the Hungarian-Indian painter. The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asian Art, features paintings from the collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi and a wealth of photographic material, evoking the artist who died young but is now considered one of the key figures of modern Indian painting. The exhibition tells the story of a life that was connected to both Europe and Asia, and whose influence can still be felt today.

This year’s program at the Hungarian National Gallery not only offers an artistic experience, but also invites visitors on a true cultural journey: from Mediterranean dreams to the courageous stories of female artists to a unique oeuvre born between two cultures.

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