Hungarian Modernity: the exhibition that sheds light on an overlooked painter at the Petit Palais, our photos

Le Petit Palais spotlights a painter little known in France, though he is a major artist in his homeland. Come meet Károly Ferenczy and explore his Hungarian modernity from April 14 to September 6, 2026.

Have you heard of Károly Ferenczy, the Hungarian painter of the late 19th century? This artist is renowned for his style and body of work, yet his fame hasn’t quite crossed borders. The Petit Palais aims to introduce this exceptional artist to a French audience through an unprecedented exhibition—the first French retrospective dedicated to Ferenczy.

From April 14 to September 6, 2026, the Petit Palais presents the exhibition Károly Ferenczy, Hungarian Modernity. The show showcases nearly 140 paintings and drawings by the artist, most of which come from Hungarian museums and Budapest’s private collections.

Károly Ferenczy stands out as one of Hungary’s most celebrated artists. His work blends naturalism with aesthetics, earning him the reputation as the "father of Hungarian Impressionism" and the "founder of modern Hungarian painting," according to the Hungarian National Gallery. As such, he remains a pivotal figure in the country’s art history.

Károly Ferenczy was trained and inspired by Italian, German, and Parisian art schools. Eventually, he settled in the Nagybánya colony, where he and fellow artists embraced en plein air painting, seeking closer ties with nature. Their work takes on a spiritual and symbolic quality, with nature playing a central role in their expression.

The artist favors bold, vibrant colors. His work includes portraits, everyday scenes, landscapes, and still lifes... The exhibition highlights the wide variety of his subjects, showcasing the evolution of his style and interests through these exceptional paintings.

The exhibition follows a chronological arc: visitors are taken through his beginnings, the influence of his travels, his awakening to nature and religious painting, and his ties to other Central European artists, not to mention the pivotal role of his family... Frame after frame, you can see the artist's style evolve, shifting from naturalism to symbolism, with touches of impressionism along the way.

This Central European art is rarely on display: there’s a reassuring familiarity in its subjects, landscapes, and period style, even as you discover a school with its own distinctive identity.

Art lovers will find this richly accomplished artist well worth exploring. Take this opportunity to also visit the exhibition Visages d'artistes.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.