DLA019-0106  Translation

London, WCi

Mills’ University Hotel

111 Gower Street.

Philip de László Esq.,

London,N.W., 

3. Fitzjohns Avenue.

London, 1930.VI.20.

Esteemed Master,

After a year full of heavy ordeals the time has come when I too, with my modest resources, could embark on the first study tour of my life. I have arrived in London, partly to be able to study the marvellous art treasures and collections of the great metropolis, and partly to seek personal contacts – if God is willing – with art dealers with whom my work could find a lasting market so that I should be able to help my dear mother and my brothers in their difficult situation. The good Mr. Robertson^[1] who recently sold another two of my drawings and whose benevolence I cannot sufficiently reciprocate, made my journey possible.

I ask the esteemed Master’s forgiveness for not having given any signs of life for such a long time, but my family and I, with the inscrutability of fate, went from one sad event to another. It began with one of my younger brothers who went through such a serious operation that it is a miracle of the Good Lord that he is still with us. This was followed by the illness of my dear mother. After she too recovered with God’s help, this was followed by my second younger brother, who also had to have an operation because of a condition arising from the war. And after we had coped with all these trials it was the turn of my youngest brother, aged 29, whose lack of experience was taken advantage of by some highly placed personages which to our great grief led to the poor boy’s nervous breakdown. I have to be grateful to Providence for having provided me with sufficient work, so that I was able to take upon myself the heaviest burdens in order to ease theirs; without this these trials could have ended even more sadly. Through God’s inscrutable will we had to live through very difficult times. But I am encouraged by my belief that we have reached the nadir of our trials and that God willing, better days are ahead. I have participated in all the exhibitions of the Műcsarnok and I have now ventured to come here with the material that I have collected and to which the art critics at home have accorded serious recognition. If the esteemed Master despite the pressure of his work could spare some time, I would respectfully ask when it would be possible to visit the esteemed Master in his studio with my drawings, so that I can show these to him and ask his advice. Asking the esteemed Master’s forgiveness for troubling him, I remain, with expressions of deep gratitude and respect,

Yours sincerely,

Károly Lühnsdorf.

P.S. I respectfully enclose a letter from Professor Bosznay^[2] addressed to the Master.

Editorial Note:

Károly Lühnsdorf (1893-1958), Hungarian artist

Pd’O

21/08/2006