Editor: Dorota Folga-Januszewska
Format: 240 x 311 mm (9.45 x 12.24 in)
Published: 2022
ISBN: 978-83-7576-657-8
Binding: Harcover
Language: English
Number of pages: 600
Number of Pictures: 1724
About the book:
This art book chronicles the evolution of the Polish graphic tradition, culminating in the renowned phenomenon of the Polish poster. This historical journey begins with the establishment of the first printing workshops in Kraków during the sixteenth century. It progresses through the genesis of graphic arts in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, followed by experimental endeavors in workshops throughout the nineteenth century. The narrative then delves into the modernist transformations, the globally acclaimed Polish graphic arts of the interwar period, and the emergence of the Polish school of graphic design in the 1930s. This period set the stage for the development of the Polish school of posters in the latter half of the century.
Subsequently, the book explores the Solidarity movement’s raw and powerful ‘affiche brut’ created by the subsequent generation. It culminates with the vibrant emergence of a youthful, poetic, and somewhat anarchic poster art at the close of the twentieth century and the dawn of the twenty-first century. The book presents a comprehensive journey through 1,724 reproductions of works by several hundred artists. These pieces, hailing from various collections both in Poland and internationally, illustrate the dynamic transformations that have characterized this unique aspect of Polish artistry.
About the Polish School of Posters:
The Polish School of Posters, renowned worldwide, is esteemed as a pinnacle in contemporary poster art, drawing parallels to the La Belle Époque French posters of the 1890s. This school of design marries the aesthetic qualities of painting with the concise and metaphorical nature of poster art. Emerging in the early 1950s, it has cultivated distinctive features such as painterly gestures, a strong sense of line, and the use of vibrant colors. These elements, combined with a flair for individual personality, humor, and fantasy, have blurred the lines between designer and artist.
The influence of the Polish Poster School on the global evolution of graphic design in poster art is significant. Its primary contribution lies in its strategic use of suggestion and clever allusions. Drawing from the rich palette of folk art, the posters integrate bold and vivid colors with printed slogans—often rendered by hand—and familiar symbols to forge a succinct and creative metaphor. These posters, as a fusion of text and imagery, generate a unique aesthetic tension.
Beyond their visual appeal, posters from the Polish School also convey the artist’s emotional engagement with the subject. They transcend mere objective representation; they embody the artist’s personal interpretation and commentary on both the subject matter and societal issues.