Young Poland ( ) was a

modernist Modernism was an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abstraction, and Subjectivity and objectivity (philosophy), subjective experience. Philosophy, politics, architecture, and soc ...

period in Polish

visual arts The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics (art), ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual a ...

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

and

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

, covering roughly the years between 1890 and 1918. It was a result of strong

aesthetic Aesthetics (also spelled esthetics) is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty and taste, which in a broad sense incorporates the philosophy of art.Slater, B. H.Aesthetics ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,'' , acces ...

opposition to the earlier ideas of

Positivism Positivism is a philosophical school that holds that all genuine knowledge is either true by definition or positivemeaning '' a posteriori'' facts derived by reason and logic from sensory experience.John J. Macionis, Linda M. Gerber, ''Soci ...

. Young Poland promoted trends of decadence,

neo-romanticism The term neo-romanticism is used to cover a variety of movements in philosophy, literature, music, painting, and architecture, as well as social movements, that exist after and incorporate elements from the era of Romanticism. It has been used ...

, symbolism,

Impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

. Many of the exhibitions were held at the Palace of Art, also known as "Secession" (''Secesja''), the headquarters of the Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts, in Kraków Old Town.

Philosophy

The term was coined in a

manifesto A manifesto is a written declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party, or government. A manifesto can accept a previously published opinion or public consensus, but many prominent ...

by writer , published in 1898 in the

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

newspaper '' Życie'' (Life), and was soon adopted in all of partitioned Poland by analogy to similar terms such as Young Germany, Young Belgium, Young Scandinavia, etc.

Literature

Polish literature of the period was based on two main concepts. The earlier was a typically modernist disillusionment with the

bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie ( , ) are a class of business owners, merchants and wealthy people, in general, which emerged in the Late Middle Ages, originally as a "middle class" between the peasantry and aristocracy. They are traditionally contrasted wi ...

, its life style and its culture. Artists following this concept also believed in decadence, an end of all culture, conflict between humans and their civilization, and the concept of art as the highest value (

art for art's sake Art for art's sake—the usual English rendering of (), a French slogan from the latter half of the 19th century—is a phrase that expresses the philosophy that 'true' art is utterly independent of all social values and utilitarian functions, b ...

). Authors who followed this concept included Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer, Stanisław Przybyszewski, Wacław Rolicz-Lieder and Jan Kasprowicz. A later concept was a continuation of

romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjec ...

, and as such is often called neo-romanticism. The group of writers following this idea was less organised and the writers themselves covered a large variety of topics in their writings: from sense of mission of a Pole in Stefan Żeromski's prose, through social inequality described by Władysław Reymont and Gabriela Zapolska to criticism of Polish society and Polish history by

Stanisław Wyspiański Stanisław Mateusz Ignacy Wyspiański (; 15 January 1869 – 28 November 1907) was a Polish playwright, painter, poet, and interior and furniture designer. A patriotic writer, he created symbolic national dramas accordant with the artisti ...

. Writers of this period include also: Wacław Berent, Jan Kasprowicz, Jan Augustyn Kisielewski, Antoni Lange, Jan Lemański, Bolesław Leśmian,

Tadeusz Miciński Tadeusz Miciński (1873-1918) was a Polish poet, novelist, and playwright associated with the Young Poland movement. Known for his mystical and symbolist themes, Miciński's works often explore the human psyche, existential questions, and the me ...

, Andrzej Niemojewski, Franciszek Nowicki, Władysław Orkan, Artur Oppman, Włodzimierz Perzyński, Tadeusz Rittner,

Wacław Sieroszewski Wacław Kajetan Sieroszewski (24 August 1858 – 20 April 1945) was a Polish writer, Polish Socialist Party activist, and soldier in the World War I-era Polish Legions (decorated with the Virtuti Militari). For activities subversive of th ...

, Leopold Staff, Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer, Maryla Wolska, Eleonora Kalkowska, Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński, and

Jerzy Żuławski Jerzy Żuławski (; 14 July 1874 – 9 August 1915) was a Polish literary figure, philosopher, translator, Alpinism, alpinist and patriot whose best-known work is the science fiction, science-fiction epic, ''Trylogia Księżycowa'' (''The Lun ...

Music

In music, the term ''Young Poland'' is applied to an informal group of composers that include

Karol Szymanowski Karol Maciej Szymanowski (; 3 October 188229 March 1937) was a Polish composer and pianist. He was a member of the modernism (music), modernist Young Poland movement that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th century. Szymanowski's early w ...

, Grzegorz Fitelberg, Ludomir Różycki as well as Mieczysław Karłowicz and Apolinary Szeluto. Almost all educated by Zygmunt Noskowski, the group was under strong influence of neoromanticism in music and especially of foreign composers such as

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

and those belonging to The Mighty Handful group, e.g.

Modest Mussorgsky Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (; ; ; – ) was a Russian composer, one of the group known as "The Five (composers), The Five." He was an innovator of Music of Russia, Russian music in the Romantic music, Romantic period and strove to achieve a ...

, Alexander Borodin and

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov. At the time, his name was spelled , which he romanized as Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakow; the BGN/PCGN transliteration of Russian is used for his name here; ALA-LC system: , ISO 9 system: .. (18 March 1844 – 2 ...

Visual arts

In the period of Young Poland there were no overwhelming trends in Polish art. The painters and sculptors tried to continue the romantic traditions with new ways of expression popularised abroad. The most influential trend was Art Nouveau, although Polish artists started to seek also some form of a national style (including '' styl zakopiański'' or the

Zakopane Zakopane (Gorals#Language, Podhale Goral: ''Zokopane'') is a town in the south of Poland, in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998, it was part of Nowy Sącz Voivodeship; since 1999, it has ...

style). Both sculpture and painting were also heavily influenced by all forms of symbolism.

was a poet, playwright and painter. His drawing, mainly in pastel, stylized to the extreme flowers, landscapes and portraits of children and actors in a testament to the influence of the Vienna Secession, and perhaps also of Japanese art. He also designed stained glass windows, furniture, carpets depicting religious scenes and floral motifs and with stylized lines and bright colors. His stained glass work can be seen in the

Wawel Cathedral The Wawel Cathedral (), formally titled the Archcathedral Basilica of Stanislaus of Szczepanów, Saint Stanislaus and St. Wenceslas, Saint Wenceslaus, () is a Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it ...

and the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi of Krakow, and he also painted the mural of the Basilica of St. Mary of Krakow. File:Stanisław Wyspiański - Portret Lizy Pareńskiej (wśród pelargonii).jpg File:Wyspiański Irises.jpg File:Wyspiański Madonna and Child.jpg File:Kraków - Church of St. Francis - Stained glass 01.jpg File:Krakow Medical Society house, Apollo-stained glass window design by Stanisław Wyspiański, 4 Radziwillowska street, Krakow, Poland.jpg File:Stanisław Wyspiański - John Casimir's Oath - MNK II-b-516 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Stanisław Wyspiański, Macierzyństwo.jpg File:Stanisław Wyspiański Śpiący Staś 1902.jpg Józef Mehoffer (1869–1946) was a painter and illustrator, but it was his work as a glassmaker that earned him his fame. He made the stained glass windows for the

Fribourg Cathedral Fribourg Cathedral () is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Fribourg, Switzerland, built in the Gothic architecture, Gothic style, on a rocky outcrop 50 metres above the river Saane/Sarine, Sarine (Saane), dominating the medieval town below. It is the ...

, as well as for a dozen other churches in Europe. He collaborated with Wyspiański on the polychromes of the Basilica of St. Mary of Krakow and on the stained glass windows of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Wawel Cathedral. File:Mehoffer self-portrait (1897).jpg File:Józef Mehoffer - Trzej aniołowie.jpg File:Jozef Mehoffer - Witraz - MNK IV-Sz-2346 (20635).jpg File:Józef Mehoffer - Muza.jpg File:Józef Mehoffer, Dziwny ogród.jpg File:Józef Mehoffer - Kawiarka.jpg The most notable representatives of Polish symbolism are Władysław Podkowiński (1866–1899) and

Jacek Malczewski Jacek Malczewski (; 15 July 1854 – 8 October 1929) was a Polish symbolist painter who was one of the central figures of the patriotic Young Poland movement. His works combined the predominant style of his time with historical motifs of Pol ...

(1854–1929). The latter placed his research in a national current and was particularly interested in the relationship between art and artist. He addressed the theme of the creator's duty in relation to the national past and reflected on the influence of art in real life. For nearly half a century, Malczewski developed cycles and series, mixing his own symbols with those of tradition, whose meaning he changed with new compositions. File:Władysław Podkowiński Autoportret 1887 Muzeum Śląskie Katowice Poland.jpg File:"Szał uniesień" (Frenzy of Exultations) Władysław Podkowiński , 1863.jpg File:Jacek Malczewski - Autoportret 1908.jpg File:Malczewski Polish Hamlet.jpg File:Malczewski Jacek Artysta i chimera.jpg File:Malczewski Jacek Do slawy.jpg File:Malczewski Jacek Nieznana nuta.jpg However, painting was dominated by French Impressionism. Artists were interested in rural life and exalted landscapes and peasants. Women and children were common subjects.

Teodor Axentowicz Teodor Axentowicz (; 13 May 185926 August 1938) was a Polish-Armenian painter and university professor. He was also the rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. As an artist, Axentowicz was famous for his portraits and scenes of Hutsul lif ...

(1859-1938), File:Axentowicz Autoportret 1898.jpg File:Axentowicz Italian florist.jpg File:Teodor Axentowicz Nad morzem.jpg File:Teodor-Axentowicz Na-Gromniczną.jpg File:Teodor Axentowicz Zaduszki 1913.jpg File:Teodor Axentowicz - Kołomyjka.jpg File:Teodor Axentowicz - Wiosna.jpg Olga Boznańska (1865-1940), File:Olga Boznańska 1893 Autoportret 1893.jpg File:Olga Boznańska - Girl with Chrysanthemums - MNK II-b-1032 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Boznańska Grandma's birthday.jpg File:Olga Boznańska - Wnętrze pracowni.jpg File:Olga Boznańska 1890 Bretonka.jpg File:Olga Boznańska 1888 Cyganka.jpg File:Olga Boznańska 1902 Macierzynstwo.jpg and Józef Pankiewicz (1866-1940). File:Józef Pankiewicz - Self-portrait - MP 893 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Józef Pankiewicz - Portret dziewczynki w czerwonej sukience.jpg File:Pankiewicz Stefan Polczyński.jpg File:Józef Pankiewicz - Jew with a basket - MP 132 - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Józef Pankiewicz - Red carnations (Still life with a blue vase) - MP 664 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Józef Pankiewicz - Jasieński przy fortepianie 1908.jpg File:Józef Pankiewicz - Harbour at Saint-Tropez - MNK II-b-855 - National Museum Kraków.jpg Post-impressionist realism was represented by the paintings of Władysław Ślewiński (1856-1918), File:Ślewiński Self-portrait in a straw hat.jpg File:Ślewiński Władysław, Czesząca się, 1897.jpg File:Ślewiński Two Breton women.jpg File:Władysław Ślewiński - Sea in springtime - MP 123 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Władysław Ślewiński - Maki.jpg File:Władysław Ślewiński - Orphan from Poronin - MP 102 - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Ślewiński Female nude from the back.jpg Leon Wyczółkowski (1852-1936), File:Wyczółkowski Self-portrait in Chinese gown.jpg File:Leon Wyczółkowski - Japonka.jpg File:Wyczółkowski Fisherman.jpg File:Leon Wyczółkowski - Plowing in the Ukraine - MNK II-b-831 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Leon Wyczółkowski - Corn-Field - MNK II-b-188 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Leon Wyczółkowski - Kopanie buraków I.jpg Ferdynand Ruszczyc (1870-1936), File:Ferdynand Ruszczyc - Hiddensee (1897).jpg File:Ferdynand Ruszczyc. Pierwsza komunia.jpg File:Ferdynand Ruszczyc - Pustka (1901).jpg File:Ferdynand Ruszczyc - Old apple trees - MP 394 - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Ferdynand Ruszczyc - Landscape – stream - MP 456 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg and Wojciech Weiss (1875-1950). File:Wojciech Weiss - The Demon - MNK II-b-1476 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Wojciech Weiss - Portrait of artist’s mother - MP 837 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Wojciech Weiss - Czesząca się 1898.jpg File:Wojciech Weiss - Male Nude - MNK II-b-1037 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Wojciech Weiss - Model - MNK II-b-183 - National Museum Kraków.jpg Witold Wojtkiewicz (1879-1909) et Konrad Krzyżanowski (1872-1922) represented the expressionist tendency. File:Wojtkiewicz Tillage.jpg File:Witold Wojtkiewicz - Fantasy - MNK II-b-205 - National Museum Kraków.jpg File:Konrad Krzyżanowski - Painter Roman Laskowski at the table, sketch - MP 14 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Konrad Krzyżanowski - By candlelight - MP 194 - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Konrad Krzyżanowski - Evening in the studio, sketch - MP 15 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg File:Konrad Krzyżanowski - Studium portretowe Emilii Wysockiej.jpg Other painters of this period include Stanislaw Mas-owski, Fryderyk Pautsch, Kazimierz Sichulski, Stanislaw D-bicki, Wadysaw Jarocki, Edward Oku, Wovzimierz Tetmajer and Jan Stanislawwski.

Notes and references

* Dobrowolski Tadeusz, ''Sztuka Młodej Polski'', Warszawa 1963. * ''Słownik artystów polskich i obcych w Polsce działających''. Malarze, rzeźbiarze, graficy, t. II, Wrocław 1975 (Urszula Leszczyńska). * Puciata-Pawłowska Joanna, ''Konstanty Laszczka'', Siedlce 1980.

External links