The Hungarian University of Fine Arts is one of the flagships of Hungarian art education, covering all fields of fine arts. Throughout its 150 years of history, it has been seen as a reference point for art education throughout the Carpathian Basin. The University aimed to create an album providing a representative picture of its art collection.
The album is a depository of objects which, in their original function, served educational purposes or were preserved as documentations of the education process. One half of the collection was initially intended to support art education just like the title Art by Example suggests. Piranesi’s etchings, the Japanese woodcuts, the Art Nouveau posters, the anatomy teaching aids, and a portion of the archival photographs were once included in the library’s collection as educational visual aids. Others are works created by students during their studies such as artistic reproductions of paintings, studies in live drawing, architecture, still-life, landscape etc. The collection was extended with a collection of works by the artists who taught at the Academy, which, over time, grew to include ensembles of works that were brought to the University specifically for educational purposes.
The album is a depository of objects which, in their original function, served educational purposes or were preserved as documentations of the education process. One half of the collection was initially intended to support art education just like the title Art by Example suggests. Piranesi’s etchings, the Japanese woodcuts, the Art Nouveau posters, the anatomy teaching aids, and a portion of the archival photographs were once included in the library’s collection as educational visual aids. Others are works created by students during their studies such as artistic reproductions of paintings, studies in live drawing, architecture, still-life, landscape etc. The collection was extended with a collection of works by the artists who taught at the Academy, which, over time, grew to include ensembles of works that were brought to the University specifically for educational purposes.
— Emese Révész
The hidden message on the edge of the pages forms a line-system representing the main and sub-categories of the works (paintings, sculptures, graphics, photos, drawings). Connecting the lines creates a coherent pattern which can be seen on the back of the book too. There is another pattern found on the top and edge of the book which reflects the collection itself therefore the book itself becomes the visualisation of a complex and protracted system. The clean coverage reminds us of the white walls of a gallery making sure the focus remains on the works presented in the book.
Credit
Editor: Emese Révész
Author: Anikó Bojtos, Katalin Blaskóné Majkó, Emese Révész
English translation: Zsófia Rudnay
Photos (in the book): Antal Gabelics, Ádám Albert
Photos (object): Alexander Csomor
Printed by: EPC Press
Responsible publisher: Hungarian University of Fine Arts
