Leon Wyczółkowski

4th from the series: “Polish Artists about the Sea”
The Polish Maritime Museum invites You to see the exhibition of art of Leon Wyczółkowski. (1852, Huta Miastkowska-1936, Warszawa) He studied art in Kraków and in Münich. He was a professor and later the rector of The Fine Arts Academy in Kraków. He was a member of many artistic groups and societies, including the Vienese Secession. He traveled around Poland as well as the rest of Europe.

He painted landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, and historical scenes. A stay in Lithuanian Połąga inspired some Baltic seascapes, executed in very loose, modern manner in fresh, bright colours. Some of these paintings will be on show at The Polish Maritime Museum. Apart from them viewers will be able to admire numerous paintings, drawings and graphic works depicting fishermen working with different fishing utensils. The point of particular interest for Gdańsk citizens can be series of lithographs showing the Motława port, The Great Crane and other parts of the Gdańsk old town. Some Vistula river views will be shown as well, including scenes of shipping the remains of the great Polish poet Juliusz Słowacki. His second funeral in 1927, on the 75th anniversary of his death, was co-organized by Leon Wyczółkowski. He commemorated this event in series of paintings that will be included in the exhibition.

In 2006 The Polish Maritime Museum organized the 4th exhibition in the series “Polish Artists about the Sea”. The series aims at presenting maritime and aquatic motives in the art of Polish painters. Even though some maritime exhibitions have been organized already their scope did not allow for the in-depth analysis of maritime subjects. “Polish Artists about the Sea” is designed as a series of exhibitions organized yearly, which acquaint the general public with different facets of maritime art against the backdrop of artistic life in general.

The exhibition catalogue with English summary and list of exhibits will be available at the Museum and via Internet.

“By The Vistula and by The Baltic Sea). Leon Wyczółkowski”
27.05.2006 – 3.09.2006
The Granaries