Zgubiony–znaleziony czyli o „Polskim tryptyku wojennym” Henryka Gotliba i jego zmiennych losach

Abstract

LOST—FOUND: ON THE VICISSITUDES OF HENRYK GOTLIB’S POLISH WAR TRIPTYCH

The article discusses the interesting and complicated history of the Polish War Triptych, that is the three monumental paintings (Warszawa, wrzesień 1939; Powrót Mickiewicza do Krakowa and Stabat Mater) created by Henryk Gotlib during the Second World War in London. The works were transferred to Poland in 1948 in order to celebrate the establishment of the Polish United Workers’ Party, however, for political reasons they were considered lost. The paintings were rediscovered and first exhibited in Poland only in 1966, two months before Gotlib’s death. The paintings are exceptional not only because they offer a unique perspective on the subject but also because they include portraits of the most eminent Polish immigrants in London, e.g. of Marek Żuławski and Feliks Topolski.