Róbert Byssz

Robert Byssz was a journalist, autodidact graphic designer and newspaper illustrator. He worked for the “Est” newspaper and was also considered the creator of modern Hungarian sport caricatures. In 1932, he participated in the art competitions of the Los Angeles Olympics with his series of sports cartoons published in book form. The album has a string binding and a cover made of linen. On the second page you can find the following information: “This book was printed in 1932 by the Kalász printing house under the supervision of director Elbert Arnold on 70 kilos of wood-free paper in a total of 300 numbered copies. For book lovers, the author hand-colored 100 copies and signed each copy.” His caricatures appeared at the major comic magazine of the time, called “Ludas Matyi”.

Byssz was influenced by modernist poster design, but his works from the 1920’s and 1930’s are closer to Art Deco. His posters show his confident drawing skill. He was fond of the film industry and theatre, for a while he was press chief of the Magyar Filmvállalat (Hungarian Film Company). He often worked on illustrations for newspapers and magazines and, after WW2, he became image editor at major magazines, the “Színházi Élet” (Theatre Life) and “Rádióújság” (Radio Newspaper). He also designed many great book covers.