PERLMUTTER Izsák
Pest (Budapest), 1866 – Budapest, 1932

Market in Besztercebánya, 1906

Like so many of his fellow painters, after completing his studies in Hungary, Izsák Perlmutter attended the Académie Julian in Paris for a while, and later, between 1898 and 1904, he lived in Holland, where he painted mostly landscapes and genre pieces.
This painting was produced shortly after his return to Hungary. He was working in Szolnok at the time, although he was not closely associated with the artists’ colony there, and their realist-naturalist style left no trace on Perlmutter’s works. His decorative world of imagery was more conducive to grander compositions, and his intention was to combine a naturalist approach with more up-to-date methods of painting. During this period, he completed many dynamically rich paintings of peasants’ home interiors. From Szolnok he made frequent trips north to Besztercebánya (Banská Bystrica). The gaily coloured marketplace of this mining town, shining in the sunlight, is presented from a slightly raised perspective. The vibrancy of the colours, diffused in the bright light, evokes the lively diversity in the hustle and bustle of the fair.