Collection: Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka

Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka (1853–1919) was a Hungarian painter and trained pharmacist, born in Sabinov. He began his formal art studies at age 41 in 1894, later working primarily in Budapest. His oeuvre aligns with the avant-garde movement of the early twentieth century, incorporating elements akin to Post-impressionism and Symbolism.

Csontváry Kosztka developed a distinctive approach to figurative compositions, employing expressive color. He worked as a solitary artist, and his contemporaries in Hungary did not fully comprehend his artistic vision during his lifetime. Though not adhering to a specific school, his work contributed to the broader European avant-garde.

Csontváry Kosztka became one of the first Hungarian painters to gain recognition across Europe. His significance was largely acknowledged posthumously. Today, his works are preserved in institutions such as the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest and the Csontváry Museum in Pécs. His painting Rendezvous (1902) was sold for over one million EUR in 2006.