Biography
Gyula Czimra (Budapest, January 3, 1901 – Budapest, July 16, 1966) was one of the most distinctive and idiosyncratic figures in 20th-century Hungarian painting.
Often referred to as the "hermit of Rákoshegy," the artist led a solitary, reclusive life; his work is characterized by refined forms bathed in light and a distinctive style devoid of shadows.
He originally trained as a locksmith at the Ganz factory and worked as a technical draftsman while attending evening classes at the School of Applied Arts.
In 1923, he traveled to Paris, where he became a student of Lucien Simon. Later, back in Hungary, he also worked alongside Jenő Paizs Goebel.
His paintings are marked by extraordinary simplicity, deep lyricism, and rigorous composition. His interiors, still lifes, and self-portraits possess a geometric purity; in his works, objects seem to float upon radiant, clear planes of color.
His works can be found in the collections of the Hungarian National Gallery, the János Tornyai Museum in Hódmezővásárhely, the Rákospalota Museum, and the Kiscell Museum.
The Hungarian National Gallery dedicated a major retrospective exhibition to his oeuvre, titled *Without Shadow* (Árnyék nélkül).
