Ulaanbaatar, May 7, 2025 /MONTSAME/. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment and development of professional ethnographic research in Mongolia and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Hungary.

In this context, the book  “Through the Lens of the East,” published by the Head of the Research and Collections Department at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum Byambaragchaa Ganbold, features depictions of Mongolians from the photographic collection of Hungarian ethnographer László Földes and is now available to the public.

Director of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum Chuluun Sampildondov remarked, “Scholars from Mongolia and Hungary have studied Mongolian history, nomadic culture, and traditions for many years. Today’s event is a continuation of the consistent joint research between scholars of the two countries. Hungarian researchers began professional-level scientific research on Mongolian nomadic history in the 20th century. The primary sources and materials compiled through this research have provided Mongolian scholars access to valuable documentation.”

Leading Researcher at the Institute of Ethnology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Mongolist Zsolt Szilágyi noted, “Among László Földes’ works, the most well-known is his ethnographic field research published in 1961, which is being used as a primary source of material on livestock husbandry in the regions of Eurasia and North Africa. A core feature of Dr. Földes’ doctoral research lies in his comparison of livestock practices, particularly the transformation of pastureland use, to landscape changes in Europe, the southern Mediterranean and adjacent regions. His field research in Mongolia significantly contributed to the collection of primary research sources and materials.”

The Book “Through the Lens of the East” presents for the first time over 250 photographs taken by ethnographer László Földes during his field research in Mongolia. The publication is notable for its comprehensive content, which includes portrayals of the lifestyle, dwellings, clothing, pastoral migrations, settlement, household items and handicrafts of Mongolians in the eastern region. 

László Földes first visited Mongolia in 1967. The photographs he captured provide valuable information on the settlement patterns of Mongolian herders, nomadic livestock husbandry, traditional Mongolian lifestyle, clothing, gers, dwellings and commodities of Mongolians during the mid-20th century.

More than 700 photographs taken during his research are currently preserved as negatives and prints in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest, Hungary. These photographs have never been published before and have remained as an unrecognized and previously unknown primary source and documentation among international scholars of Mongol studies. The archive also includes 561 black-and-white photographs, 274 color photographs, and footage from a short documentary film produced by László Földes.