"Sztuka": Polish Art's Golden Age
Discover the Society of Polish Artists "Sztuka" and its remarkable exhibitions celebrating the vibrancy of Polish art.
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The Society of Polish Artists "Sztuka" (“Art”)
The Society was an art organization focused on organizing exhibitions of artists of the Young Poland era, in particular the annual spring exhibition in Krakow.
Apollo. Copernicu's System . A design of stained-glass for the House of Medical Society in Krakow (1904) by Stanislaw WyspianskiThe National Museum in Krakow
The art of its times
Artists from "Sztuka" in the early years of "Sztuka" exhibited jointly with the Wiener Seccesion and, as residents of Austria-Hungary, were ordinary members of this grouping.
Artists from "Sztuka" in the early years of "Sztuka" exhibited jointly with the Wiener Seccesion and, as residents of Austria-Hungary, were ordinary members of this grouping. The prestige of the Society made it easier for them to obtain ministerial grants, enabling them to exhibit the work of Polish artists in Europe and the USA.
Sef-portrait (1906) by Olga BoznańskaThe National Museum in Krakow
Meet the Founders
The Society's initial members were pivotal figures in Young Poland's art scene. Discover the artists who shaped its identity and legacy.
The Society's founding members included renowned Polish artists such as Leon Wyczółkowski, Jacek Malczewski and Stanisław Wyspiański, representing a powerful force in Young Poland art.
The first presidents of the Society were Józef Chełmoński (for the first year) and Jan Stanisławski. Already in the first year of its activity, the Society admitted Olga Boznańska to its ranks, as one of the few women members of art associations in all of Europe at that time.
Morning Star (1891) by Józef ChełmońskiThe National Museum in Krakow
New Art Trends in Krakow
Krakow embraced Realism and Impressionism through exhibitions by "Sztuka" artists, introducing these styles to Polish painting.
Early "Sztuka" exhibitions prominently featured landscapes by leading artists like Stanisławski, Chełmoński, and Wyczółkowski, showcasing the beauty of the Polish countryside.
Vita somnium breve (Life is a short dream) (1904/1906) by Józef MehofferThe National Museum in Krakow
The greatest individualities of the Young Poland era
The Society brought together artists who were aware of the current artistic trends and went beyond the established conventions of art with their work.
Sztuka's founders envisioned exhibitions showcasing carefully selected, individual works, celebrating art in its purest form. The exhibitions were to be a pure manifestation and a true celebration of Art.
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Sztuka's Artistic Legacy
Members of the "Sztuka" Society, prominent at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts, won prestigious commissions and significantly influenced the city's artistic scene, broadening the horizons of Polish art. See their works in the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art.
The "Sztuka" Society, while promoting modern art trends, was also exclusive, leading to criticisms of its elitist nature and rejection of lesser-known artists' works.
Agata Jabłońska, based on the catalogue of the collections of the National Museum in Krakow | zbiory.mnk.pl
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