Helbing, Ferenc

He began his artistic career in 1892 with lithography . After he studied a course in graphics and applied art, he worked as a printer in a printing house.

He later turned to graphic design and made several large posters in the style of classicism and eclecticism, using plastic , classic shapes and gold or painted backgrounds.

Since 1906, Helbing taught at the school of graphics, then at the School of Applied Arts (since 1910) and the Academy of Fine Arts (until 1936). From 1927 to 1936 he directed the school of applied art.

Over time, he developed his own graphic style, thanks to which he became one of the most famous representatives of Hungarian fine art and a pioneer in the field of Hungarian commercial graphics.

In addition to graphics, he was a book illustrator, painter, author of many posters, postage stamps . He created stained-glass windows and murals (for example, at the Palace Hotel in Lillafured, a hotel in Miskolc ).

His fabulous, symbolic art nouveau compositions are similar to the works of the great Austrian and Hungarian secession masters. Some of his works are very erotic, representing the demonic figure of an ideal woman - a typical art motif at the turn of the century. In his graphic works, illustrations, prints , bookplates, the artist often used rich ornaments and floral motifs.

He is also known as an artist and designer of many Hungarian banknotes .

Ferenc Helbing is a participant in several industrial and printing competitions, a laureate of many Hungarian and foreign prizes in the field of applied art and graphics.

Some of his works can now be seen in the Hungarian National Gallery .

• Helbing Ferenc (Hungarian)