Self-Portrait with Jenó Kertész

Art Historical Context

In 1923, Hungarian photographer André Kertész created this intimate *Self-Portrait with Jenó Kertész*, a poignant snapshot from his early career in Budapest, just before his pivotal move to Paris in 5. Featuring himself alongside his brother Jenó the image reveals the personal side of an artist who would become a modernist master, celebrated for transforming everyday moments into poetic compositions. This small-scale work captures the warmth of familial bonds amid the interwar era's uncertainties, reflecting Kertész's emerging sensitivity to light, shadow, and human connection. Printed as a gelatin silver print—a versatile medium dominant in the early 20th century for its fine grain and expansive tonal range—the photograph measures a mere 3.7 x 5.1 cm, evoking the immediacy of a personal keepsake rather than a grand exhibition piece. Likely a contact print from the original negative, it showcases Kertész's skillful use of available light to convey tenderness and introspection, hallmarks of his style that influenced photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson. Today, this gem graces the National Gallery of Art's collection, thanks to a gift from The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation. It invites visitors to appreciate how Kertész's humble beginnings laid the groundwork for his revolutionary contributions to photography's artistic legitimacy.

About the Artist

André Kertész · 1894–1985

André Kertész, born Andor Kertész on July 2, 1894, in Budapest, Hungary, to a middle-class Jewish family, initially pursued a conventional path as a clerk at the Budapest Stock Exchange after graduating from the Academy of Commerce in 1912. Self-taught in photography after purchasing his first camera that year, he captured his early poetic visions of Hungarian landscapes and peasant life, includin...