The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Bocskay Tér, Budapest

1914, printed 1980

André Kertész

(American, 1894–1985)
printer

Hyperion Press

America
gelatin silver print
Image: 18.7 x 24.6 cm (7 3/8 x 9 11/16 in.); Paper: 20.2 x 25.2 cm (7 15/16 x 9 15/16 in.)
Gift of Alan and Monah L. Gettner 2021.115
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

André Kertész’s brother helped him with this photo by posing for it.

Description

Night photography was challenging in the 1910s, but Kertész and his brother succeeded in creating this dramatic image with its hints of film noir. The light source that blazes so brightly and creates the man’s dark “twin” remains a mystery. It is likely that the relatively slow film speed would have required Kertész’s brother to hold still during the shot.
  • 1980-2021
    Alan and Monah L. Gettner, New York, NY
    June 7, 2021
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Kertész, André, and Hilton Kramer. Hungarian Memories. 1982. p. 155
  • {{cite web|title=Bocskay Tér, Budapest|url=false|author=André Kertész, Hyperion Press|year=1914, printed 1980|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2021.115