Through an American Lens, Hungary, 1938: Photographs of Margaret Bourke-White

Edited by Katalin Kádár Lynn

Kadar Lynn's recently discovered a trove of Margaret Bourke-White's mostly unpublished photographs were taken during the artist’s month-long trip to Hungary in 1938. The celebrated photojournalist shot riveting portraits of Hungary's full political leadership right before the outbreak of war. From photos of Admiral Nicolas Horthy to Ferenc Szálasi, these images reveal Bourke-White's skills as a master portraitist and the implied thoughts and attitudes of Hungary's leaders as they faced a monumental juncture in history.

This volume enriches Bourke-White’s photos with contextualizing essays by prominent historian Károly Szerencsés, speculating on Bourke-White's impressions as she visited Hungary for the first time. Her work speaks to the sadness, treachery, inevitability, and disappointment felt by a nation on the brink of war. A short biography and a brief history of modern Hungary round out the volume.

Related Subjects

• European History
• Photography

About the Author

Katalin Kadar Lynn is a historian specializing in research relating to the United States, Central and East Europe during World War II, and the Cold War. She also serves as trustee of the American Hungarian Library and Historical Society of New York City. Károly Szerencsés is an associate professor in the New and Contemporary Hungarian History Department, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest.

top of page