This article presents a period in the Giurgeu basin’s artistic existence that gave us numerous famous artists, most of whom found their livelihood elsewhere. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the region lies far from lively cultural centres and it was fairly late that society reached a level that could launch artists and creators. The author interviewed painter Árpád Márton of Joseni who presented some of his personal experience from the socialist era. In the world of dictatorship the artist had to find particular ways to express himself.