József Rippl-Rónai

Born May 24, 1861, in Kaposvár; died there Nov. 25, 1927. Hungarian painter.

Rippl-Rónai attended the Munich Academy of Arts from 1884 to 1887. He also studied in Paris from 1887 to 1889 with M. Munkácsy. In Paris he became associated with the nabis. In his decorative compositions, Rippl-Rónai used soft harmonious color schemes to re-create the slow rhythm of provincial life (for example, Uncle Piacsek and Dolls, 1905, Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest). He produced a number of very truthful portraits that are particularly masterful in execution (for example, Self-portrait in Red Beret, pastel, 1924, Hungarian National Gallery).