Astrakhan (1916)

Pap enlisted as a soldier at the outbreak of World War I and was later taken prisoner by Russia. Astrakhan lies on the border between Europe and Asia, 100 kilometres off the northern shore of the Caspian Sea. Pap captured the city in numerous oil paintings and prints during his captivity. Most of these were exhibited at the Belvedere Salon after his return in 1923. 'Géza Pap is a painter who aspires towards expressionism. He sees in single, large patches and styles in a way that gives the essence of objects and the character of their movement a decorative beauty. His colourful Astrakhan paintings are particularly successful,' says the Nemzeti Újság ('National Newspaper') about this exhibition.