The possibilities of a lady from the good house - in the light of her memories

This case study of the life of Irén Preisich, a physiotherapist, is part of the research exploring the social history of Hungarian art of movement. Movement art is the umbrella term for the physical culture movements that implemented the aspirations of the art, pedagogical and life reform movements of the second half of the 19th century. The institutionalisation of the movement in Hungary, which encompasses a wide range of movements, became an important factor in the professionalisation of two professions, dance training and gymnastics, from the beginning of the 20th century. The exceptionally rich collection of sources, which represents the history of the Preisich family, shows the common phase of the above-mentioned professionalisation processes between the two world wars from the perspective of the individual, from below. It gives us an insight into the functioning of the schools of movement, the ways in which knowledge was transferred, the opportunities for beginners to gain a foothold, the family conflicts behind the choice of career, the conflicts within the profession, and the drastic effects of the political life of the period on the profession and private life. The inclusion of the recollections of the paediatrician father in the study broadens the time horizon, nuances and deepens the picture of the social background, and gives an idea of the opportunities, constraints and conflicts of the members of the medical profession in the society concerned.

Read the study by Katalin DETRE in the latest KORALL!