Hugo Scheiber (1873 – 1950)
Man on a Bench
21 x 22 inches
mixed media on paper
signed lower right
Bark frame

Hugo Scheiber
Scheiber is considered one of Hungary’s great modernists.
Scheiber showed an early interest in German Expressionism and Futurism.  In 1915 he met Marinetti, who invited him to join the Futurist movement.  Because Scheiber’s paintings conflicted with academic style of the Hungarian art establishment, his work was virtually ignored in his own country.  In 1919, he and his friend Béla Kádár held an exhibition organized by Hévesy in Vienna, which was a great success, so much so that the Budapest Art Museum purchased two of his drawings.
A turning point in his career came in 1921 when Herwarth Walden, founder of Germany’s leading avant-garde periodical, Der Sturm, and of the Der Sturm Gallery in Berlin, became interested in Scheiber’s work. His paintings soon appeared regularly in Walden’s magazine.  Exhibitions of his work followed in London, Rome and New York.
Another turning point came in 1926, with the New York exhibition of the Société Anonyme, organized by Katherine Dreier.  Important avant-garde artists from more than twenty-three countries were represented.  Scheiber was invited by Marinette to participate in the great meeting of the Futurists held in Rome in 1933, where he was received with great enthusiasm.