“Winged Handwriting”, or Witkacy of Helena Blum Supplement to the Discussion about the Reception of Witkacy’s Art in the Context of Surrealism

Abstract

Helena Blum was an art critic, museologist and art historian – one of the very first researchers of the world avant-garde and modern art in Poland. In 1932 she defended the first PhD. thesis in Poland about modern art, titled Currents in the constructional type in the modern Polish art. Since 1944 she lived in Krakow and was connected with the National Museum there. Between 1944 and 1965 she was first a custodian of the Polish Gallery of 20th-century Painting and Sculpture, and then its curator between 1965 and 1973. She created the collection of Polish modern art in that gallery, gathering the art of post-war Krakow artists as well as the art of Witkacy. In 1957 she organized the Formists group exhibition, where the art of Witkacy was also presented. Significantly, she was associated with the pre and post war avant-garde society of Krakow, who treated Witkacy as their Spiritual Father. It can be concluded, that Helena Blum co-created the image of Witkacy as an avant-garde artist, and that her role was essential also due to her position in the National Museum in Krakow and her ability to use the institution to promote her vision. It was Helena Blum, who was the commissioner of the monographic exhibition about Witkacy’s art organized in 1966, which strengthened the perception of Witkacy as a surrealist.