Artist: Henryk Tomaszewski
Editor: Dorota Folga-Januszewska
Published: 2019
ISBN: 978-83-7576-307-2
Binding: Harcover
Format: 150 × 200 mm (6 x 7.88 in)
Language: Polish and English
Number of pages: 64
Number of Pictures: 60
About the artist:
This mini-album showcases over 50 pieces by Henryk Tomaszewski, a towering figure in the realm of Polish poster art. Curated by Dorota Folga-Januszewska and Błażej Ostoja Lniski, the collection highlights Tomaszewski’s most celebrated posters and prints. As an illustrious graphic artist, illustrator, and educator, his influence extends far beyond the canvas. This album marks the inaugural edition of our new series, which pays homage to the legendary masters of the Polish Poster School, capturing the spirit and innovation that define this artistic movement.
O artyście:
Minialbum zawiera ponad 50 prac jednego z największych twórców polskiego plakatu - Henryka Tomaszewskiego. Najcelniejsze prace plakatowe i graficzne tego wybitnego grafika, ilustratora i pedagoga w wyborze znawców tematu, Doroty Folgi-Januszewskiej oraz Błażej Lniskiego, tworzą znakomity, dostępny dla każdego, zbiór dzieł. Album otwiera serię poświęconą najwybitniejszym twórcom polskiej szkoły plakatu.
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.