oil, board, 70×70 cm
1985

Sheafes are dancing in Zarichevo (beyond the river)

Imre Égerházi regularly visited international art colonies outside the Hungarian border. One of his favorite destinations was Transcarpathia, where he also worked in the artistic communities of Dubrinic, Kamjanka and Munkács. These colonies operated predominantly in the spirit of ‘plein air’, i.e., artists painted or sketched in nature.
The environment in Zarichevo inspired the painting, known as Sheafs are dancing. Imre Égerházi regularly displayed natural objects or houses as allegorical persons or living beings. Thus, the sight of the sheaves lined up on the hillside was reminiscent of figures dancing in the light of the setting sun. The color choice of the painting is special, as reds dominate in the spirit of correlation with the sunset. This world of colors, by the way, was no stranger to the painter, as red-toned paintings were made regularly 7-10 years earlier. However, looking at his works in 1985, it became a completely unique color choice.
Imre Égerházi considered this one of the best works and donated it to the Hungarian National Gallery in the mid-1990s. The painter’s son, Attila Égerházi, also thinks of it as an all-time favorite and chose it as a front cover for a 2003 album of his band. In Djabe’s Sheafs Are Dancing, the musicians composed songs for Imre Égerházi’s paintings, following a ‘one painting – one song’ concept.

Sheafs are dancing in Zarichevo (beyond the river) is one of the most exhibited artworks among Imre Égerházi’s legacy, featured heavily not only in his life but well after his passing.

The painting is the property of the Hungarian National Gallery. It is not currently on permanent display.