Warsaw
Completed

Odzyskana: A Photojournalistic Exhibition Documenting Warsaw's Interwar Years (1918-1939)

Discover how press and artistic photography captured the dynamic evolution and daily moments of Warsaw residents.

This exhibition offers a compelling visual narrative of Warsaw between 1918 and 1939, marking Poland's independence. Explore a curated selection of pre-war press photographs from the 'Światowid' agency, alongside artistic works, depicting the city's evolution and the everyday lives of its inhabitants. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history and cultural landscape of the Second Polish Republic through these powerful archival images.

About Odzyskana. Fotoreportaż z Warszawy 1918 39 at History Meeting House in Warsaw

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Odzyskana. Fotoreportaż z Warszawy 1918 39 at History Meeting House in Warsaw

Exhibition summary

This exhibition presents a photographic journey through Warsaw between 1918 and 1939, showcasing the city's transformation and the daily lives of its residents. It features press photography from the 'Światowid' agency and artistic photographs, offering a comprehensive look at the capital of the Second Polish Republic.

Curatorial context

The exhibition 'Odzyskana. Fotoreportaż z Warszawy 1918 39' offers a visual narrative of Warsaw during the twenty years between the two World Wars, marking the 100th anniversary of Poland's independence. Curated by Anna Brzezińska and Katarzyna Madoń-Mitzner, it aims to depict the evolution and daily life of the city, focusing on its inhabitants as the collective heroes. The exhibition utilizes a curated selection of pre-war press photographs from the 'Światowid' agency, part of the 'Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny' conglomerate, featuring works by renowned photojournalists such as Henryk Poddębski, Narcyz Witczak-Witaczyński, and Leon Jarumski, sourced from the National Digital Archives. The exhibition spans two locations: an indoor gallery at the History Meeting House (Dom Spotkań z Historią) and an outdoor display on ks. Jana Twardowskiego Square, collectively presenting over three hundred images. These photographs capture diverse aspects of city life, from representative areas of Śródmieście to neighborhoods like Powiśle and Czerniaków, and also address social issues such as poverty and unemployment alongside dynamic modernization and the construction of significant buildings like the Prudential building and the Racecourse at Służewiec. Complementing the photojournalism, a small gallery showcases artistic photography from the period by artists like Jan Bułhak and Roman Vishniac, offering a different perspective on the city through styles such as pictorialism and modernist aesthetics. A timeline by historian Jerzy Majewski further contextualizes the visuals.

Admission and ticket notes

The exhibition is located at the History Meeting House (Dom Spotkań z Historią) and is also displayed outdoors on ks. Jana Twardowskiego Square. Specific ticketing information is not detailed on this page, but opening hours for the venue are provided.

Odzyskana. Fotoreportaż z Warszawy 1918 39 key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Odzyskana. Fotoreportaż z Warszawy 1918 39 at History Meeting House in Warsaw

Venue
History Meeting House
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Oct 10, 2018 – Feb 24, 2019
Artist line / attribution
Featuring photographs by Henryk Poddębski, Narcyz Witczak-Witaczyński, Leon Jarumski, Jan Bink, Jan Bułhak, Zofia Chomętowska, Czesław Olszewski, Anatol Węcławski, and Roman Vishniac. Curated by Anna Brzezińska and Katarzyna Madoń-Mitzner, with Tomasz Kubaczyk curating the small artistic photography gallery.
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