This exhibition at Royal Łazienki Museum offers a profound look at the Balkan Wars and World War I. Explore artworks by prominent Bulgarian artists, many of whom were mobilized as war correspondents or soldiers. Their unique artistic testimony provides an intimate record of historical events from the frontlines. These compelling pieces combine European artistic traditions with direct wartime experiences.
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This exhibition showcases paintings by eminent Bulgarian artists who documented the atmosphere in the Balkans during the Balkan Wars and World War I. The works, drawn from the National Museum of Military History in Sofia, offer a unique perspective on conflict through the eyes of artists who were present at the front.
The exhibition "I didn’t carry arms. I had a backpack and an easel" presents a compelling collection of paintings by prominent Bulgarian artists who served as war correspondents or soldiers during the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and World War I (1915–1918). These artists, including Vladimir Dimitrov Poppetrov – The Master, Boris Denev Chokanov, Konstantin Shtyrklov, Peter Morozov, Alexander Nakov Mutafov, Yakim Banchev, and Nikola Tanev, all graduates of prestigious European academies, combined their artistic talents with their direct experiences at the front. Their works, on display at the Royal Łazienki Museum, are not mere depictions of war but intimate records of what they witnessed and endured. Mobilized or volunteering for service, many were assigned the status of War Artists by the Active Army Staff, allowing them to capture the realities of conflict with a unique blend of Bulgarian and European artistic traditions. The exhibition provides a profound look at historical events through the lens of those who experienced them firsthand, offering a powerful testament to the intersection of art, history, and personal testimony.
The exhibition is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. Ticket prices include a normal ticket for 20 zlotys, a reduced ticket for 10 zlotys, and a family ticket for 15 zlotys. A combined ticket for all museum facilities is also available. Admission is free on Fridays.
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