About This Image

Vintage silver print on card stock, blind stamp in the image, handwritten ink caption in Hungarian, numbering stamp "2" and the author's stamp on the back. Very rare.

Beautifully framed in contemporary black wood frame.

Kerny is an Hungarian photographer known for his experiments with multiple photographic processes, particularly photomontage.

From 1914, he published his images in the Hungarian and international press.

In the 1920s, he traveled to the countryside with photographers Rudolf Balogh and Ervin Kankowsky, capturing peasant life and scenes. The three photographers are considered pioneers of the "Magyar" style. In 1941, he founded the Museum of Amateur Photography with Konkowszky.

Kerny’s experiments with light, texture, and the physicality of the photographic process resulted in images that were not only technically groundbreaking but also visually provocative. He used a variety of techniques, including double exposures, montage, and innovative darkroom processes, to create photographs that conveyed emotional depth and psychological complexity. His work often carried a sense of mystery, inviting viewers to engage in a deeper contemplation of the imagery before them.

Beyond his technical expertise, Kerny’s photography was also a reflection of his intellectual curiosity and his desire to explore the boundaries between reality and representation. He was deeply influenced by the cultural and political changes occurring in Hungary and Europe during his lifetime, and his images often captured the tensions and contradictions of the modern world.

István Kerny's collection was destroyed during the bombings of 1944. Some of the artist's prints are featured in major public and private collections, including the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Thomas Walther Collection, etc.

Most U.S. domestic Fed Ex ground shipping (Media Mail for books) will be a flat $25 charge except for larger and heavier items, or unless the buyer wants express shipping (email us your requests for the latter). International shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania buyers must pay appropriate local sales tax. International clients are responsible for their local customs duties and taxes, which will be charged by Fed Ex, which will contact the client prior to delivery.