Painting: "Hungarian Resistance Fighter" Mort Künstler 1957

[Flagg]

"Hungarian Resistance Fighter" Mort Künstler 1957

http://surfingthekaliyuga.tumblr.com/image/64809844039

Pretty interesting painting.

I think it has a pulp fiction cover history.

Does anyone know much about this one?

It certainly has an OSS/Jed or early SF "feel" about it(my best guess).

[JJ_BPK]

Kunstler is famous for his art work. It tends to be in a paperback novel style, aka: Pulp Fiction. He's similar to Alberto Vargas.

This picture is very un-real.

- sitting around with ASEG and war trophy.
- hanging grenades by the pin loop
- belt ammo, while carrying a magazine(BAR) & clip fed(M1) rifle
- bayonet in boot with no sheath

Hungarian freedom fighters carried com-block weapons

My $00.00002

[TrapperFrank]

Thanks for the blast from the past! This type of art used to grace the covers of such magazines as Stag and Saga in the 1960s to mid 1970s. My dad used to bring them home by the boat load. I would always sneak a peak and read them on the sly. For what it is worth, the artwork was always 10 times better than the story.

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Kunstler is famous for his art work. It tends to be in a paperback novel style, aka: Pulp Fiction. He's similar to Alberto Vargas.

This picture is very un-real.

- sitting around with ASEG and war trophy.
- hanging grenades by the pin loop
- belt ammo, while carrying a magazine(BAR) & clip fed(M1) rifle
- bayonet in boot with no sheath

Hungarian freedom fighters carried com-block weapons

My $00.00002

As a civilian, I'm guessing he went with some of the typical hollywood stereotypes(like the grenade pin rings...eeek! and the others you mentioned)

I guess what stood out was the BAR/M1 Garand, and thinking why did the artist choose those?

If I could ask the artist one question it would be: 'What did he envisage as the back story for the freedom fighter?

Some really cool art work!

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by TrapperFrank

Thanks for the blast from the past! This type of art used to grace the covers of such magazines as Stag and Saga in the 1960s to mid 1970s. My dad used to bring them home by the boat load. I would always sneak a peak and read them on the sly. For what it is worth, the artwork was always 10 times better than the story.

It's funny eh?

I look at Jackson Pollock paint splotches and think "A monkey could do this"(or so I think) and they sell for jillions. I simply don't get it.

Art work like this to me is "blue collar art". It is easy to appreciate without an Art History PHD and a 40 foot container full of pretentiousness.

I had never heard of this fella Kunstler before yesterday and that one really stood out......will be looking up the Vargas fella too.

[JJ_BPK]

Alberto Vargas,, look for old Playboy mag's He was much more the ladies erotic art master.. 1896-1982

Mort Künstler, 1931- still here.. I think most of his art was based on the content of the dime-novels, not verce-visa (sic)..

Both use realistic fantasy. The "actors" were extremely realistic & detailed, but the content was very fictional fantasy..

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Alberto Vargas,, look for old Playboy mag's He was much more the ladies erotic art master.. 1896-1982

Mort Künstler, 1931- still here.. I think most of his art was based on the content of the dime-novels, not verce-visa (sic)..

Both use realistic fantasy. The "actors" were extremely realistic & detailed, but the content was very fictional fantasy..

Cheers!

[The Reaper]

Kunstler is a prominent Civil War artist as well.

TR

[cbtengr]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Kunstler is a prominent Civil War artist as well.

TR

That is the medium that I recognize him from, in comparison his CW art is very refined.

Kunstler.jpg

[8944]

I have a number of his Civil war prints in my home and I believe he should be considered a serious artist. At least on the Civil War prints he is meticulous in his investigation of the subject, the person(s) involved, the time of the year of the event, etc. If you enjoy Civil War art, you really should investigate his work.

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Kunstler is a prominent Civil War artist as well.

TR

I had a browse through his Civil War stuff…..looks like at least 2 Mosby's Rangers paintings in the mix.

[The Reaper]

I have several War Between the States prints as well. The realistic pieces are my favorites.

Through an odd set of circumstances, I was involved in commissioning a piece from the premier artists back in the 90s, including Kunstler. We could not come to terms with Mort. I preferred Don Troiani's work, but he could not do the piece for contractural reasons, and Dale Gallon and his wife were very reasonable and extremely easy to get along with, so we hired them.

I have one Kunstler print (Winter Riders) and a bunch of his Christmas calendars, some Gallon's, and mostly Troiani's.

I was unaware that Mr. Kunstler had done these resistance pieces. A very different look from his later work.

TR

[Stobey]

Don't have any Civil War prints by Kuntsler (that name gives me ajida); but I have a nice one entitled "Bringing Up the Guns", Gilbert Gaul. (Other info on print: Supplement to "Judge" Christmas, 1889 and Copyright 1889 by The Judge Pub. Co.)

A very nice print - and very realistic.