Little known outside of his native Hungary, the body of work Szász created from the late 1950s through the 1970s, epitomizes the artistic vision and innovation of photographers active in Hungary during the years of communism. Featuring boldly graphic abstractions primarily drawn from Hungarian life and landscape, Szász’s images communicate through a universal vernacular. Working in the tradition of Hungarian greats such as André Kertész and László Moholy-Nagy, János Szász’s images are notable for their experimentation with radical perspectives, formalist compositions, and stark, black and white contrast printing. Szász’s photographs transform ordinary scenes from his hometown of Pécs — snow-covered vineyards, stacked firewood, and rows of seating in a darkened movie theater—into bold and graphic compositions. By manipulating darkroom exposure and processing techniques, Szász often reduced his subjects to pattern. He utilized a darkroom process for high-contrast printing, which involved chemical over-processing, then painstakingly bleaching over toned areas with a paintbrush or sponge, to arrive at his dynamically graphic images.
Photographs: Szász János Texts: Kincses Károly Graphic design: Bodó Márton Translation: Szász Balázs Publisher: Szolga Hajnal Year: 2012 Paperback, 128 pages Language: English, Hungarian Dimensions: 27 x 21 cm ISBN: 978-963-08-2959-5
