Tihamér Von Margitay (1859-1922) - Distraction on a public Bench

Tihamér Von Margitay, a Hungarian painter known for his genre paintings, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. There, he was influenced by the German realist school before returning to Hungary to develop his own style. With a naturalistic approach, his style is similar to that of Jules Bastien-Lepage.

Margitay is renowned for his depictions of everyday life and genre scenes, often rendered with a touch of humor. His works show particular attention to detail and the emotions of his characters, capturing intimate and sometimes comical moments of rural and bourgeois Hungarian life.

Our painting “Distraction on a Public Bench” depicts four characters sitting on a bench in a park. On the left, a dandy with a nonchalant posture and insistent gaze whistles and disturbs the tranquility of the scene. Next to him, a young woman, elegantly dressed and imperturbable, reads an alphabet book to her two young sisters. She seems to ignore her neighbor's advances. This comical situation reveals the lighthearted spirit of the fin de siècle.

We know of several versions of this painting, indicating its success with the public and connoisseurs alike.