Sport themes in the graphic art of Polish female artistsof the interwar period

Abstract

Sport themes in the graphic art of Polish female artists
of the interwar period

The subject of sport in graphic art was taken by mostly by female Varsowian artists. Among those, the most innovative were the woodcuts by the members of Ryt group, Wiktoria Goryńska, Janina Konarska and Maria Rużycka-Gabryel. All these artists had great passion for sport; Goryńska, who created many works unique for the interwar period, depicted fencing exercises and tournaments as well as the portraits of fencers (Szermierka [Fencing], Ćwiczący szermierze [Practicing fencers] or Autoportret-flrecistka [Self-portrait – female foilist]) was a competitive fencer herself; Rużycka-Gabryel took part in competitive watersports and skiing (Narciarz – zjazd [A Skier], Smarowanie nart [Ski waxing], Sporty wodne [Water sports]). Ko narska made a sport series of images in color woodcut (Piłka nożna [Football], Tenis [Tennis], Regaty [Regatta]) as well as several woodcuts on skiing. Among Wanda Telakowska’s visual oeuvre’s characteristic features was combining water sports (rowing, sailing) and picturesque landscapes. Female graphic artists con nected with Fresk group (Zofi Sznuk-Koskowska, Maja Wolska-Berezowska) cre ated works of distinct style in etching with aquatint. Their works constituted the essence of the Art Deco style. In geometrized and rhythmical forms Koskowska depicted males and children practicing winter sports and tennis, and Wolska pre sented tennis and rowing in bucolic landscape. The artists presented other sports as well, e.g. volleyball, rugby, boxing or depicted sports practiced just for pleasure and relaxation. Further, graphic artists competed for Poland during art competitions at the Olympic Games.