This lecture explores the history of posters designed for Stanisław Wyspiański's dramas, showcasing how artists interpreted his theatrical and poetic visions. It traces the origins of artistic theatrical posters in Poland from Wyspiański's own pioneering design.
This lecture, "Image and word, or posters for Stanisław Wyspiański's dramas," delves into the visual representations of Stanisław Wyspiański's theatrical works. It begins by discussing Wyspiański's own 1899 poster for the Municipal Theatre in Krakow, which announced a lecture and precursor to Mauryce Maeterlinck's play "Wnętrze" (Interior). This project is recognized as a seminal moment in the history of artistic theatrical posters in Poland, uniquely combining text and imagery.
The lecture will further explore posters created for iconic plays such as "Noc listopadowa" (November Night), "Warszawianka," "Wyzwolenie" (Liberation), and "Wesele" (The Wedding). These posters are presented as artistic interpretations of the plays and their stage or film adaptations, with their creators including prominent artists like Henryk Tomaszewski, Jan Lenica, Piotr Potworowski, Jan Młodożeniec, and Andrzej Pągowski. These artists translated Wyspiański's words into symbols, personifications, images, and signs, offering a visual dialogue with his literary output. The lecture is part of the event program for the temporary exhibition "Ikonosfera Wyspiańskiego. Noc listopadowa w Łazienkach Królewskich" (Wyspiański's Iconosphere. November Night at the Royal Łazienki).