Ferenc Helbing, the master of Art Nouveau

Ferenc Helbing, the master of Art Nouveau
(1870–1958)
Ferenc Helbing was a leading stamp and banknote designer between the two world wars, one of the first representatives of graphic art in Hungary, who designed numerous stamps and banknotes between 1920 and 1935, thus defining their style in that era. Furthermore, he played a significant role in the dissemination of modern reproduction graphic technologies in Hungary, and was an excellent copperplate engraver, wood engraver and lithographer. He was one of the pioneers of Hungarian commercial graphics.
He was born in Érsekújvár on 25 December 1870. He started working as a lithographer and printer at the age of 16 and his talent was apparent from then on. He pursued his Art studies at the School of Industrial Drawing in Budapest, went on study trips to Vienna and Munich, and was introduced to the latest artistic trends and styles in these cities. After finishing his studies, he worked as an art and technical director for various printing houses. He became a teacher in the Industrial Drawing School in 1902. He was appointed to organise the graphics faculty of the School of Arts and Design in 1906, and was appointed headmaster of the school between 1927 and 1936. During his career as an artist teacher, he raised a whole generation of painters and graphic artists, and his students included Piroska Szántó, Amerigo Tot and Zsigmond Kolozsváry, as well as future banknote designer Endre Horváth.
The images of Saint Stephen, Patrona Hungariae and King Matthias also appear on his banknote and postage stamp designs, which bear the characteristics of the Hungarian Art Nouveau style. By looking at the pieces on display, you can discover their similarities, but also the many ways in which the same designer can approach a topic, while keeping the characteristics of small graphic design creation in mind.