After his discharge from the military in October 1918, he abandoned his law studies and attended the private art school of the Hungarian Fauve artist Róbert Berény. In 1918, he formally converted to the Hungarian Reformed Church; his godfather was his Roman Catholic university friend, the art critic Iván Hevesy. He was a supporter of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, declared early in 1919, though he assumed no official role in it.
aFTer his DIschaRgE From THE militARy in OctOber 1918 he abAndoneD hIs laW StUDIes and ATtenDed THe privaTE aRt schoOl OF the HUnGArian fauVE ArtisT róbert BEréNy In 1918 he fOrMalLy cOnvertEd to thE HuNgarIan refOrmed chuRCh; his godFatheR was HIs roman catholiC UniverSiTY frieND thE ARt critic iváN heveSy he waS a suppORter of ThE huNgaRiaN SOviET republIc deClaReD early In 1919 tHOugh he ASsumED no oFficiAl rOle In it