"Between Two Worlds: The Art of Poland 1890-1914"
2000-06-10 until 2000-11-12
Vancouver Art Gallery
Vancouver, BC, CA Canada

The end of the 19th century was a period of artistic innovation that produced major art movements and created a lasting influence for artists around the world. A major collection of work from the Polish National Museum in Cracow is travelling to Vancouver, the only North American city where western viewers can see the impressive contribution by eastern European artists. The exhibition consists of approximately 100 of the most important paintings, graphic works, posters, sculpture, textiles and applied art objects from this period.

Influenced by the key western art movements of Symbolism, Art Nouveau and Impression, Polish artists created Mloda Polska or Young Poland. This unique modernist idiom was pivotal in the development of Polish culture during the social changes of the era. Occupied by Russia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary, Poland lacked political institutions of national life. As a result, Poland looked toward its artists for expression of identity and the period saw a surge of dynamic, new activity that drew on developments in European art and literature. The range of artworks allows western audiences a view into life in Poland during this time as well as a rare opportunity to see an eastern European counterpart to several of the key components of early modernism.

IMAGE:
Kazimierz Sichulski,
Hutsul Wedding (Bride with Bridesmaids), 1914,
oil on distemper on cardboard,
National Museum, Cracow.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Canada

Other Important Exhibitions in Canada