Artwork
Last Supper
Last Supper is an oil painting by Károly Kernstok. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1921, *Last Supper* is an oil painting by Hungarian artist Károly Kernstok. The work depicts a group assembled around a table, engaged in a serious exchange, rendered in a predominantly dark palette with occasional lighter tones. It is part of the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents figures in a communal setting, their gestures and expressions suggesting a weighty dialogue. Some participants appear troubled, while others remain composed, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of tension, fellowship, and perhaps a contemporary reinterpretation of the biblical scene traditionally associated with the title.
Technique & Style
Kernstok employs oil on canvas with a restrained color scheme, emphasizing chiaroscuro to model forms and convey mood. The brushwork reflects the influence of early twentieth‑century modernists, particularly the decorative simplification associated with Henri Matisse, while retaining a personal, expressive handling of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
After the collapse of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919, Kernstok relocated to Berlin, where he continued his artistic activity. *Last Supper* was later acquired by the Hungarian National Gallery, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of early modern Hungarian painting.
Context
Kernstok was a member of the avant‑garde circles known as the Neos and The Eight, groups that sought to introduce contemporary European trends into Hungarian art. His studies in Munich and Paris exposed him to modernist currents, which he integrated into works such as this, bridging national tradition with broader artistic developments of the interwar period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Károly Kernstok (23 December 1873, in Budapest – 9 June 1940, in Budapest) was a Hungarian painter.
The Last Supper
The Judgment of the Sanhedrin: He is Guilty!
The Vote (Sketch)
Tavern in Rome, sketch
Arab Gypsies in a Tent
Cina cea de Taină
The Golden Age in Literature in the 16th c., from the series “History of Civilization in Poland”
Familie de tătari
Untitled
O cină
Six Diners at Table
Descent from the Cross