Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is still under copyright. Aurél Bernáth died in 1982; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2052. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.
In context
Self-portrait — Aurél Bernáth
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 87 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Aurél Bernáth (1895–1982) every dated painting, decade by decade
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/aurel-bernath-self-portrait-9DGBYP-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Gray #877c85
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 22 works by this artist, of which 6 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Makó, Hungary
Aurél Bernáth (born Makó, Hungary in 1895 – died 1982) was a prominent Hungarian painter and art theorist. He received his foundational artistic training at Nagybánya, studying under the guidance of István Réti and János Thorma. This early exposure to the Nagybánya school of plein-air painting would significantly shape his approach to landscape and color.
Bernáth’s life was marked by the upheaval of the First World War, in which he served as a soldier. Following the war, in 1921, he relocated to Vienna, Austria. It was during this period that his artistic style began to be heavily influenced by the burgeoning German Expressionist movement.
A pivotal moment in Bernáth’s career came with an invitation from Herwarth Walden to exhibit his work at the renowned Sturm Gallery in Berlin between 1922 and 1924. This exposure placed him amongst some of the most avant-garde artists of the time, solidifying his commitment to Expressionist principles.
In 1926, Bernáth returned to Hungary and became a leading figure in the Képzőművészek új társasága (New Society of Artists), commonly known as KUT. He was particularly associated with the Gresham Circle during the 1930s, a group of artists who challenged traditional artistic norms and explored new forms of expression.
Bernáth dedicated much of his life to education, teaching at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts from 1945 to 1974. He also contributed significantly to art discourse as an editor for the journal Hungarian Art from 1948 to 1949. After 1947, his writings on art theory gained considerable popularity and influence within Hungarian artistic circles.
Expressionist Landscapes: Bernáth is celebrated for his evocative landscapes, often characterized by bold colors, textured brushstrokes, and a sense of emotional intensity.
Portraits: He also created compelling portraits that captured the psychological depth of his subjects.
Social Commentary: Many of his works subtly addressed social themes and the realities of life in Hungary during the 20th century.
Aurél Bernáth’s work represents a crucial link between Hungarian art and the broader European Expressionist movement. His contributions as both an artist and a theorist helped to shape the development of modern art in Hungary. He is referenced in several key art encyclopedias, including the Benezit Dictionary of Artists and the Vollmer Encyclopedia.
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Look closely
Self-portrait — Aurél Bernáth
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"Self-portrait" by Aurél Bernáth is still protected by copyright. Copyright terms are measured from the artist's death, and Aurél Bernáth died in 1982.
The image of "Self-portrait" by Aurél Bernáth can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page: a high-resolution digital image download.
"Self-portrait" was created by Aurél Bernáth. The information on this page describes Aurél Bernáth's original work.