Stanisław Wyspiański is widely regarded as Poland’s greatest artist and as the founder of modern Polish drama.

Stanisław Wyspiański (1869–1907), is widely regarded as Poland’s greatest artist whose work is just beginning to be appreciated outside of Central Europe. Best known as the founder of modern Polish drama, he was also an artist and applied arts designer. During his short career he made a number of striking portraits in pastel of his family and and contemporary Cracovians which collectively provide a fascinating insight into the cultural life of a nation under partition and striving for independence.

This illustrated publication showcases 70 of Wyspiański’s portraits. Full of colour and vitality, his works draw on indigenous folk traditions, but are executed in a progressive expressive style influenced by the years Wyspiański spent in Paris, and epitomise the ideals and aspirations of the Young Poland movement with which he is closely associated.

Text by: Andrzej Szczerski
Contributions by: Magdalena Laskowska, Maria Skrzpczak-Latzke, Agnieszka Skalska