Németh Zsófia (Ed.) : Women at the Gödöllő Artists' Colony

The exhibition presents works of art by females who worked at the Gödöllő Colony of Artists in the first half of the 20th century. Two of the artists were Mariska Undi and Laura Kriesch, who graduated from the predecessor of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. Carla Undi and Vilma Frey did courses, in relations with the Gödöllő weaving school. They were scholars of the School of Applied Arts. Basic education of the Frey girls was provided by Árpád Juhász in Zombor. He, before he moved to Gödöllő was a private tutor for Gabriella, Vilma and Rózsa Frey.

Women of the middle or higher classes were privately educated on art or music at the artist colony in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. By law, women had the right to go to collages or universities. However, society needed tome to adapt to this. Families had to make financial sacrifices to provide higher education to girls. It was not natural that girls studied more than housekeeping, or any basic education. Running a household, especially if it was a bigger one, was not an easy task and it was the job of the females.

Education of women was to prepare them for living independently of men. In addition, it was also to lessen the poverty of women at the end of the 19th century. The historic and social background added a lot to the beginning of household industry, later schools of arts and crafts. Specialized schools open one after another across Hungary. Bee-keeping and poultry keeping training was offered for the first time, and training of housewives was under consideration. Courses were offered across the country, and also art studios where trainees could master weaving, like in Gödöllő.

The review of the weaving school in Gödöllő is highlighted at the exhibition. Vilma Frey came to Gödöllő after the school’s nationwide advertisement campaign because she could not find a job according to her skills. Then, she invited her sisters, too. She and Rózse moved to live in Gödöllő. Their sister, Gabriella (Ella) was by then married to the lawyer Dr. Lehel Knézy. She did not move to Gödöllő, but was somewhat involved in the work at the colony, together with her children and husband. In his childhood, she was privately taught to paint and practiced it throughout her life.

Mariska Undi and her sisters, Carla és Jolán, also came to study at the weaving school. Later on Lenke Boér joined them from Diód, Transylvania. Jolán Undi and Lenke Boér, after learing the skill graduated from the weaving school. Their names are often mentioned in contemporary exhibition flyers and related literature.

Laura Kriesch's brother was invited by Aladár Körösfői-Kriesch together with her husband, Sándor Nagy where he worked as a graphic artist and designer.

Equality of women in Gödöllő prevailed much more than it was customary those days. However, we must not forget that leading artists were all men even in Gödöllő. The only woman who dedicated her life completely to art was Mariska Undi. All the others married and had children. They even signed their married names on the works.

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Kiállítás, amely Keserü Katalin művészettörténész koncepciója alapján a gödöllői művésztelepen alkotó női művészeket mutatta be . Körösfői-Kriesch Aladár, Nagy Sándor alkotásain a 19. századi hősök helyett hősnők jelennek meg, a világ és önmaguk megismerésére törekvő nőalakok, akik maguk is alkotók és akiket a férfiak - eltérően a "végzet asszonya" korabeli kultuszától - társnak tekintettek. Ebben az életközösségben, ami a művésztelepi közösség alapját jelentette, felértékelődött a hagyományos női tevékenység, minden olyan munka, ami az otthonnal volt kapcsolatos, művészi jelentőséget nyert. A paraszti életmód felfedezése is befolyásolta ezt a szemléletet. A kiállítás bemutatta a hagyományos nőkép megváltozását a gödöllői művésztelepen, a nőművészek (Undi Mariska, Undi Carla, Kriesch Laura, Frey Vilma) tevékenységét, a női munkán alapult szövőműhely működését, tágabbra tekintve azokat az építészeti és belsőépítészeti törekvéseket is, melyek az életközösségek otthonát voltak hivatva megteremteni.