Blooming Tree (1900–1919)

Ladislav Mednyánszky prints bring the misty valleys, quiet villages and twilight landscapes of the Tatra region into your home, along with unforgettable portraits of ordinary people. Mednyánszky, also known as László Mednyánszky, was a Hungarian baron, painter and philosopher, one of the most enigmatic figures in Hungarian art. Our collection of fine art prints includes his landscapes of Strážky and the Tatras, heads and figure studies, and wartime scenes.

About Ladislav Mednyánszky

Baron László Mednyánszky was born on 23 April 1852 in Beckov, then in the Kingdom of Hungary and now in Slovakia, into an old noble family. In 1861 the family moved to his grandfather's chateau at Strážky, near Spišská Belá, which became the setting for many of his works. The Austrian painter Thomas Ender, visiting in 1863, encouraged his early drawing.

He studied at the Munich Academy in 1872–1873 and then at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Isidore Pils, before working independently in Montmartre. From 1877 he moved between Strážky, Budapest, Vienna, Paris and Italy, sometimes living in seclusion and sometimes among aristocrats, artists, peasants and vagrants, many of whom he painted. He held a major exhibition at the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris in 1897.

He lived in Budapest from 1905 to 1911 and then in Vienna. When the First World War broke out he worked as a war correspondent on the Austro-Hungarian fronts in Galicia, Serbia and the South Tyrol, and was wounded. He died in poor health in Vienna on 17 April 1919. Many of his works were destroyed in the Second World War.

Style and Subjects

Mednyánszky's landscapes are moody and atmospheric, with mists, dusk, snow, still water and soft, muted colour. Hills, birch woods and village rooftops dissolve into hazy light, giving his pictures a dreamlike, contemplative quality.

His portraits and heads of tramps, labourers, gypsies and soldiers are direct and compassionate, painted with quick, expressive brushwork. He saw painting as part of a philosophical search, and his work bridges late Romanticism, naturalism and early modernism.

Famous Works

• View of the Ruins of Súľov (1875–1885), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A ruined castle among rocks, from his early years.
• Watering Place with Ravens (1878), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A quiet, dark landscape with birds at the water.
• Night Travellers at a Cross (1880), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. Travellers pausing at a wayside cross at night.
• Village below the Tatras (1880–1900), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A village nestled at the foot of the mountains.
• Early Evening Motif in a Park in Strážky (1895), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. Dusk falling over the family park at Strážky.
• Winter Sun in a Landscape with a Brook (1900), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A pale winter sun over a snowy stream near Strážky.
• Soldiers in the Rocks (1914), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. Troops among rocks, from his time as a war correspondent.

Decorating with Mednyánszky Prints

Mednyánszky's misty landscapes suit bedrooms, reading corners and calm living rooms, with soft greys, greens and blues. A Tatra or Strážky landscape brings a quiet, contemplative mood above a bed or sofa, especially in simple wood frames.

His heads and figure studies, such as Head of a Gypsy Boy, make a strong group for a study or hallway, and his winter scenes are lovely seasonal pictures.

FAQ

Who was Ladislav Mednyánszky?

Baron László (Ladislav) Mednyánszky was a Hungarian painter and philosopher who lived from 1852 to 1919. He is considered one of the most enigmatic figures in Hungarian art.

What did Mednyánszky paint?

Mainly atmospheric landscapes of the Tatra region and his family estate at Strážky, and portraits of people from every class, especially vagrants, peasants and soldiers.

Where did Mednyánszky study?

He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Isidore Pils.

Was Mednyánszky a war artist?

Yes. During the First World War he worked as a war correspondent on the fronts in Galicia, Serbia and the South Tyrol, painting soldiers and battle scenes.

Where can I see Mednyánszky's paintings?

The Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava and the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest hold large collections of his work.

Related Artists

• Jozef Hanula: Slovak painter of the same era
• Dominik Skutecký: painter of Slovak life of the same generation
• Peter Michal Bohúň: earlier painter of the Slovak region