Artist: Janusz Stanny
Editor: Dorota Folga-Januszewska
Published: 2018
ISBN: 978-83-7576-356-0
Binding: Harcover
Format: 150 × 200 mm (6 x 7.88 in)
Language: Polish and English
Number of pages: 64
Number of Pictures: 64
About the artist:
This mini-album features nearly 60 works by Janusz Stanny, a preeminent Polish illustrator of books and press. His work is characterized by its enigmatic forms, delicate lines, and the whimsical portrayal of characters. Stanny’s illustrations have brought to life the fairy tales and fables of La Fontaine and Andersen, as well as a range of literature for adults. Accompanied by an insightful introduction from Dorota Folga-Januszewska, this book is the fifth installment in a series celebrating the most eminent Polish poster artists, highlighting Stanny’s significant contributions to the art of illustration.
O artyście:
Minialbum zawiera blisko 60 prac jednego z najznakomitszych polskich twórców ilustracji książkowej i prasowej – Janusza Stannego. Wyróżnikami prac artysty są wieloznaczna forma, delikatność rysunku oraz humorystyczne przedstawienie postaci. Stanny ilustrował bajki i baśnie, chociażby La Fontaine’a i Andersena, jak również literaturę dla dorosłych. Książka, opatrzona wstępem Doroty Folgi-Januszewskiej, jest piątą publikacją z serii poświęconej najwybitniejszym polskim plakacistom.
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.