|
Centenary Exhibition at the Szolajski House, ul. Szczepanska 11
January 6th - March 25th 2007
A stone's throw from Cracow's medieval gate is a bizarre throwback to the bohemia of a century ago. Michalik's Cafe was the meeting place of Poland's finest and most flamboyant painters, and the interior remains a riot of witty sketches, stained glass and fantastically shaped furniture. Tales of debauchery have now passed into legend, although as one of the original ringleaders noted, most of the wild young men went on to become rather venerable professors.
One of the most glorious pieces of art in this devils' den is a caricature of Jan Stanislawski, subject of the National Gallery's current exhibition. Stanislawski was a professor of painting at the Academy just round the corner, as well as a regular at Michalik's Cafe. As one might discern from the caricature, Stanislawski was not on the small side. In fact, that's something of a colossal understatement. The caricaturist has made the professor look more like an overweight elephant than a member of the human race (if you've seen Monty Python's 'The Meaning of Life' you're close to getting the picture). Squashed beneath the gargantuan figure of Stanislawski are three decidedly shrivelled little chaps who seem to resemble starved pixies - a trio of Stanislawski's students.
From the caricature, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Professor was not the great hero of his students. But in fact, the opposite was true. Jan Stanislawski was a much-loved figure and his influence on a generation of artists was as immense as his own stature.
The current exhibition at the Szolajski Mansion chimes in with the passing of Stanislawski a hundred years ago. For the centenary, the National Gallery has dug into its collections to present a a cross-section of the artist's career. It's a delightful show and an absolute must for art lovers. 
Above: 'Beehives in the Ukraine' by Jan Stanislawski (c.1895)
One of the fundamental things about Stanislawski is that although he was famed for his imposing proportions, his actual paintings were very much on the small side. He was a practitioner of painting in the open air, and he was amongst the first Polish artists to champion the Impressionist style. Given his bent for getting out and about, the professor found it preferable to carry small canvases. As a result, the vast majority of his paintings are little bigger than a paperback book.
That said, most viewers are likely to leave this exhibition with the firm conclusion that small is beautiful. Of the few dozen pictures on show, this reviewer could have happily walked away with the lot. (Coincidentally, the very size of Stanislawski's paintings has made them amongst the most stolen in Poland!)
Besides a series of enchanting oils, the National Gallery has also dug out a host of sketchbooks for visitors to savour. These pocket-sized pads offer a fascinating snapshot of Stanislawski's outdoor adventures - an unexpected bonus to this fantastic show.
Jan Stanislawski: Centenary Exhibition
The Szolajski House (Wyspianski Museum), ul. Szczepanska 11
Closed Mondays
| | | |