Artist: Mieczysław Wasilewski
Editor: Dorota Folga-Januszewska
Published: 2017
ISBN: 978-83-7576-324-9
Binding: Harcover
Format: 150 × 200 mm (6 x 7.88 in)
Language: Polish and English
Number of pages: 64
Number of Pictures: 59
About the artist:
Mieczysław Wasilewski, born in Warsaw in 1942, is a prominent figure in the Polish poster art scene. As a student of the renowned Henryk Tomaszewski, Wasilewski has developed a mastery of synthesis and line work that has established him as one of the most accomplished Polish poster artists. Since 1971, he has been imparting his knowledge as a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. This mini-album is a testament to Wasilewski’s skill and influence, featuring over 50 works from his distinguished career. It is the third installment in a series that pays homage to the most illustrious representatives of the Polish school of poster art, highlighting their unique contributions to the field and celebrating their enduring legacy.
O artyście:
Mieczysław Wasilewski urodził się w Warszawie w 1942 roku, uczeń Henryka Tomaszewskiego, od 1971 pedagog warszawskiej ASP, mistrz syntezy i kreski, jeden z najwybitniejszych polskich plakacistów. Minialbum, zawiera ponad 50 prac tego wybitnego artysty. To trzeci album z serii poświęconej 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.