#fortepan — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #fortepan, aggregated by home.social.
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Eger, 1977.
Obligatory 1st of May post! (Sign says 'Long Live May First')
Source: Fortepan [88984] Tamás Orbán
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Budapest, 1958
Not sure why you would take a briefcase with you while at the local swimming pool. And the woman behind the man also appears to be carrying a bag. People are strange sometimes.
Fortepan [ 148469] / Ferenc Barbjerik
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Budapest, October 1956.
'Ruszkik Haza!' translates as "Russians Go Home!" and was widely used during the revolution. When the last Soviet troops finally left Hungary in June 1991, the day was marked with a citywide festival in the capital called 'Budapesti Búcsú' or Budapest Farewell.
At last night's huge demonstration in Budapest, seventy years on from 1956, Hungarians were once again having to shout, 'Ruszkik Haza!' It can't come soon enough.
Fortepan [232392] / László Virány
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Budapest, 1964
The waiter. The photo was taken in Budapest's famed New York Café, once the home of writers and poets. The interior is magnificent and one of the finest examples of Austro-Hungarian pomp and grandeur. Nowadays only tourists go, having to queue to get in, and be able to order overpriced coffee (a cappuccino will set you back $NZ27) from surly wait staff.
Source: Fortepan [148173] / Demeter Balla / Donated by Zsolt Hegyi, legal heir( I am featuring photos of Hungarian photographer Demeter Balla (1931-2017) over the next little while.)
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Kengyel-Bajimajor, Hungary, 1963
At the turn of the twentieth century there were an estimated 800 windmills in Hungary, mostly near the Danube and Tisza rivers. By the time this photo was taken, almost all commercial windmills had ceased operation. This one is clearly in decline and unusable. But I love how Gazda includes a single figure in the photo reminding us that buildings and structures derive their meaning from the people who work and live around them.
Fortepan [307392] / Anikó Gazda
#fortepan #Hungary #FemalePhotographer #windmill -
Hungary, 1958
Happiness is a car, especially in late 1950's Hungary. Up until 1958, private ownership of cars was essentially prohibited. In 1958 restrictions were lifted and it was then possible, through the government, to buy a car. This car may have been one of the first.
Fortepan [307071] / Anikó Gazda
#fortepan #Hungary #FemalePhotographer -
Hungary, 1961
A man looking at a wind pump. Gazda had a natural photographer's eye, and I love this example. If you look closely, you can see that the man is dressed in a large overcoat and wearing what looks like a fedora hat. In other words, a very urban man far from his usual office.
(I meant to add in my last Fortepan post introducing Anikó Gazda and her work that she is yet another example of a previously neglected female photographer finally getting some sort of recognition. Let's hope that the nearly 2,000 photos recently added to the Fortepan archive give her and her work greater prominence.)
Fortepan [307728] / Anikó Gazda
#fortepan #Hungary #FemalePhotographer -
Sopron, Hungary, 1968
Fortepan has added several thousand photographs to the archive from Hungarian architect Anikó Gazda. During the communist era, Gazda worked on the preparation and restoration of listed buildings, and was widely regarded as a leading authority on both Hungarian folk architecture and synagogue architecture. Although many of her images document buildings, her work is equally shaped by a deep interest in the people who lived in and around them.
This photo of hers caught my eye because of the way the three people in it bring life to a scene that would otherwise be just formal angles of buildings and streets.
Source: Fortepan [307131] / Anikó Gazda
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Budapest, 1958.
Two, three, and four-wheeled transportation for the children!
Source: Fortepan [204042] / Pál Lukács
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 1971.
Returning to one of my favourite photographers on Fortepan, Sándor Kereki, this is an impressive image of the Jewish cemetery in Samarkand.
Source: Fortepan [204761] / Sándor Kereki
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Budapest, 1969
A pair of proud fathers enjoying the sunshine at a park in central Budapest.
Source: Fortepan [294100] / Album091
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Budapest, 1983
Hungarian film director, Béla Tarr - far left - and a television reporter discuss his craft with film and tv editing students. Tarr died on 6 January this year.
Fortepan [56257] / Rádió és Televízió Újság / Béla
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Eger, 1949
Two young children about to help with the grape harvest.
Source: Fortepan [273404] / Kern család (family)
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I have posted a number of photos by Károly Vajszada from Fortepan in recent weeks, and they have been well received. So I did a bit of digging on who exactly Károly Vajszada was. He was a Hungarian, born in what is now Slovakia, who was primarily a painter. Although he studied with the well-regarded János Vaszary in the 1920s, Vajszada's paintings are, to be blunt, pretty mediocre and wouldn't be regarded as collector's items. After WWII, where he was captured and imprisoned by the Soviets, he returned to Slovakia and lived with his mother until she died in 1965. He moved to Budapest and died there in 1977, aged 76. There is no record of where he is buried, which makes me a little sad.
But it is street photography that he is now known for. Over six hundred negatives were donated to Fortepan by a Zsolt Zsanda, who got the negatives from his father. Hungarian media were quick to claim Vajszada as the new 'Hungarian Vivian Maier’, which, while a little overblown, is a worthy comparison. The rawness, freshness, and spontaneity in his photos of everyday life in and around the small towns of Fiľakovo and Lučenec are a real sociological treasure of those times. I would add that Sándor Kereki, who I have also featured on my Fortepan posts, is another example of a 'rediscovered' Hungarian street photographers whose photos throw new light on life in mid-regime communist countries in central Europe.
You can see all of Vajszada's photos on Fortepan at the link below.
#fortepan #photography #StreetPhotography #Vajszada #Kereki #Maier #Slovakia #Hungary
https://fortepan.hu/en/photos/?photographer=Vajszada%20Károly
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Slovakia, 1959. The simplicity and joy in this photo makes me happy.
Source: Fortepan [53811] / Zsolt Zsanda Zsolt / Károly Vajszada
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Hungary, 1973. Tenderness.
Source: Fortepan [205226] / Sándor Kereki
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Hungary, 1968. Another early example of Sándor Kereki's work. I am sure they are both having fun but it all looks a bit serious to me. The name on the swing, Évike is a diminutive of the Hungarian version of Eve.
Source: Fortepan [205062] / Sándor Kereki
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Budapest, 1973. A very typical Budapest scene in many ways: a group of men gathered around a chessboard in one of the several thermal baths that can be found there. See if you can see some serious 1970s sideburns on display too!
Another fine Sándor Kereki photo of everyday Hungarians in mid-Communist regime days.
Source: Foretpan [205233] / Sándor Kereki
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Hungary, 1974. Another fine portrait photo from the Fortepan archives. There is often a serenity about the elderly, as if hurrying is no longer of any use. It never was, but somehow as we age, we realise this more and more. (The sign on the tree says there is a toilet next to the restaurant.)
Source: Fortepan [205585] / Sándor Kereki
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Arraiolos, Portugal, 1959. Another non-Hungarian photo in the Fortepan archive, this one from the University Wisconsin Milwakuee Library.
What a face, and what a look!
Source: [260005] / UWM Libraries
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Sopron, 1972. Street life is always full of surprises. There is something very charming about this photo.
Fortepan [ 85462] / Katalin Erdei
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Hungary, 1970. Saturday night is partying night. This seems a typical party for those of a certain age in Hungary. Lots of alcohol, probably pálinka (fruit brandy), and if you were lucky, a live Roma violinist. They would sing the old songs known as "magyar nóta", a variety of sugary, sentimental songs about romance and the old days, all infused with a very Hungarian sense of melancholy and emotion. Similar perhaps to Fado music in Portugal, or Chanson in France, especially in the sense of music being tied to national identity.
Source: Fortepan [144259] / István Péterffy
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Vác, 1990. My Hungarian in-laws have much family history in Vác, including a lot to do with the cathedral. It was the main reason we too went to live in Vác for a while. And while there, we too joined the Easter procession around the cathedral, just like the one shown here. Some of our Hungarian extended family are bound to be in this crowd somewhere.
Fortepan [250369] / Károly Vimola
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Székesfehérvár, 1958: In Hungarian, the term “kofa” [ˈkofɒ] specifically denotes an older, female vendor at a market. This word carries connotations of being assertive, direct, possibly even somewhat rough in their speech, a skilled negotiator, and a bit of a gossip. This is the word Fortepan used to describe this woman.
Fortepan [287001] / Ibolya Szentkuthy
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Vác, 1970. Not sure why you need to wrap your ducks in a basket like this. Maybe to stop them flying away before they are sold!
Source: Fortepan [268131] / Katalin Gárdos
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Budapest, 1988. March 15 is one of the main national holidays in Hungary, commemorating the 1848 revolution. The rosette in Hungarian national colours, seen here on the leading dissident János Kis, has now been coopted by the Orbán regime to become an aggressive, almost compulsory symbol of nationalism. Wearing one today signifies support for his version of an authoritarian Hungary, rather than that of a freedom fighter.
Fortepan [188262] / Lajos Jakab
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1964, Budapest. One of the few, and most accessible, visible reminders of the Turkish occupation of Buda (1541-1684), is the King Baths [Király fürdő] in Buda. They are located on the main road that runs parallel to the Danube on the Buda side and are an easy walk for any tourist. Built in 1565, they are closed at the moment for restoration.
Source: Fortepan [ 279253] / Artfókusz
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Szolnok, 1975. An impressive example of brutalist architecture in the town of Szolnok - population 71,000 back then. A twenty-four-storied tower block is very high by Hungarian standards, especially in what is a relatively small place. Fifty years later, the tower block is still being used, although the monument is no more. [Edit: Monument is still there. See my comment below.]
Source: Fortepan [66109] / Magyar Rendőr [Hungarian Police]
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Budapest, 1960. Two ecclesiastical tailors. I love the Singer sewing machine - not to mention the lighted cigarette!
Even though the Catholic Church lost of a lot of power and influence during the Communist regime, it nonetheless was a continuing presence in the lives of many ordinary Hungarians. Ornate vestments for priests were still a must and required full-time staff.
Source: [276351] / Gyula Hámori
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A very typical image of a horse-mounted herdsman on the Great Hungarian Plain or puszta. Known as 'csikós' in Hungarian, they display great horsemanship— not to mention great whip-handling abilities too. They occupy a similar position to that of the American cowboy in Hungarian consciousness. Goulash, authentically a meat soup, originated from them as a one of their typical meals.
Source: Fortepan [292571] / Tibor Inkey
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A very typical image of a horse-mounted herdsman on the Great Hungarian Plain or puszta. Known as 'csikós' in Hungarian, they display great horsemanship— not to mention great whip-handling abilities too. They occupy a similar position to that of the American cowboy in Hungarian consciousness. Goulash, authentically a meat soup, originated from them as a one of their typical meals.
Source: Fortepan [292571] / Tibor Inkey
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A very typical image of a horse-mounted herdsman on the Great Hungarian Plain or puszta. Known as 'csikós' in Hungarian, they display great horsemanship— not to mention great whip-handling abilities too. They occupy a similar position to that of the American cowboy in Hungarian consciousness. Goulash, authentically a meat soup, originated from them as a one of their typical meals.
Source: Fortepan [292571] / Tibor Inkey
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A very typical image of a horse-mounted herdsman on the Great Hungarian Plain or puszta. Known as 'csikós' in Hungarian, they display great horsemanship— not to mention great whip-handling abilities too. They occupy a similar position to that of the American cowboy in Hungarian consciousness. Goulash, authentically a meat soup, originated from them as a one of their typical meals.
Source: Fortepan [292571] / Tibor Inkey
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A very typical image of a horse-mounted herdsman on the Great Hungarian Plain or puszta. Known as 'csikós' in Hungarian, they display great horsemanship— not to mention great whip-handling abilities too. They occupy a similar position to that of the American cowboy in Hungarian consciousness. Goulash, authentically a meat soup, originated from them as a one of their typical meals.
Source: Fortepan [292571] / Tibor Inkey
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Budapest, 1962. I love this image of a man hauling his cart, somewhere into the distance, on a grey, foggy, windless winter's day. It evokes old Budapest, especially the predominantly working-class District IV on the outskirts of the city where this photo was taken. It's mostly gone now, replaced by car yards and the like. That's progress, I guess. Nostalgia is a potent drug though.
Source: Fortepan [289810] / Mátyás Bencseky
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Hungary, 1976. In Hungary the new year's greeting is often abbreviated to BÚÉK (Boldog új évet kívánok!/I wish you a happy New Year). It's common to see this in advertisements, postcards and in the text messages and social media posts at this time of the year. For many years BUÉK (the U without the correct accent, as in this image from 1976 below) was common practice, but now BÚÉK is officially the only acceptable form.
BÚÉK!
Fortepan [207030] / FŐFOTÓ
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Budapest, 1965. New Year's Eve is a big occasion in Hungary, so much different to the basically non-celebration I grew up with in Aotearoa. In Hungary it's a huge party night that can easily go on into the early morning. Eating delicious stuffed cabbage (töltött káposzta) after midnight is common. But here we see New Year revellers in Budapest under the ever watchful eye of the Communist police.
Source: Fortepan [65285] / Magyar Rendőr [Hungarian Police]
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Budapest, 1977. Tailors at work at the Police Clothing Store in the Pest County Police Headquarters in Budapest's XIV District. There is something almost reverential about people who sew: the way they bow their heads in quiet contemplation at the miracle of their handwork.
Source: Fortepan [22487] / Magyar Rendőr [Hungarian Police]
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Budapest, 1943. A master wheelwright, Lajos Miklós, at work in his workshop in Budapest's X District. The site of his workshop is now a kindergarten and surrounded by a housing estate. Definitely an image of a world long gone.
Source: Fortepan [140880] / Lajos Miklós
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Budapest, 1943. A master wheelwright, Lajos Miklós, at work in his workshop in Budapest's X District. The site of his workshop is now a kindergarten and surrounded by a housing estate. Definitely an image of a world long gone.
Source: Fortepan [140880] / Lajos Miklós
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Budapest, 1943. A master wheelwright, Lajos Miklós, at work in his workshop in Budapest's X District. The site of his workshop is now a kindergarten and surrounded by a housing estate. Definitely an image of a world long gone.
Source: Fortepan [140880] / Lajos Miklós
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Budapest, 1943. A master wheelwright, Lajos Miklós, at work in his workshop in Budapest's X District. The site of his workshop is now a kindergarten and surrounded by a housing estate. Definitely an image of a world long gone.
Source: Fortepan [140880] / Lajos Miklós
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Budapest, 1943. A master wheelwright, Lajos Miklós, at work in his workshop in Budapest's X District. The site of his workshop is now a kindergarten and surrounded by a housing estate. Definitely an image of a world long gone.
Source: Fortepan [140880] / Lajos Miklós
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Öskü, 1959. A couple walks up a small hill in the village of Öskü, near Lake Balaton. Unseen on the hill to the left, over the railway line, is the only rotunda church in Hungary, built in the 11th or 12th century. But it is the couple, looking rather weary, that really makes this photo so special.
Source: Fortepan [21730] / Antal Kotnyek
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Hungary, 1948. New number plate, anyone? You can tell by the Hungarian emblem on the plates (the Kossuth Coat of Arms) that this photo was taken just before the communists completed their takeover in 1949. They replaced this emblem with their own, much-reviled, coat of arms. And from that point until 1958, individuals were not allowed to buy private vehicles.
Source: Fortepan [16490] / Magyar Rendőr (Hungarian Police)
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Hungary, 1980. This waitress looks rather bored. Hungarian customer service, especially during the communist era and afterwards, could be functional to the point of downright rudeness. Not always, of course, but we certainly met our fair share of very average service— although more often in shops than in restaurants, to be fair.
Source: Fortepan [674] / Fortepan
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Sály, 1971. A Roma wedding breakfast in the small village of Sály in eastern Hungary. In Hungarian tradition, they are starting with a soup.
Even under the Socialist regime, Roma were among the poorest. Today they are remain significantly worse off than the general population and continue to suffer profound social and economic marginalisation, limited access to services, and lower life expectancy.
Source: Fortepan [185067] / János Kende
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Hungary, 1989. One of my favourite TV programs in the 1990s was "Two Fat Ladies" with the delightfully unfashionable Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright who rode everywhere a Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle and sidecar. Just like these two on a Jawa motorcycle in Hungary, a few years before the TV series was filmed. (All the episodes of Two Fat Ladies are now on YouTube.)
Fortepan [67202] / Magyar Rendőr (Police)
#fortepan #Hungary #motorcycle #Jawa #sidecar #Velorex #TwoFatLadies
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Budapest, 1986. Speaking of interesting times, the late 1980’s was certainly one such period. Here President Gorbachev is visiting downtown Budapest in a time of unprecedented change. He is accompanied by his wife, Raisa, who is having her hand held by János Kádár’s wife, Maria. Kádár, on the right, has time for a cigarette. Interpreters hover around the Gorbachev’s, but not the Kádárs whom speak Russian.
Source: Fortepan [197951] / Zoltán Szalay
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Budapest, 1967. Getting the look. The various markets in Budapest, as elsewhere in Hungary, are always full of life and interesting people. This market in Fény utca (Light Street), located near a busy transport hub, is still going just as strongly as when this photo was taken. It’s been modernised of course but you will still find sellers who will look at you just as warily as these two if you photograph them.
Source: Fortepan [196163] / Zofia Rydet