Stefan Rassalski “Sigismund's Column”

Woodcut on paper, signed lower left “S.Rassalski”.

Framed: 41x32 cm

Stefan Rassalski „Ster” ( 1910 - 1972 Warszawa) Painter and graphic designer, art historian, editor, journalist in the announcements and reviews of his shows, published in Kurier Polski [Polish Courier], Tygodnik Kulturalny [Culture Weekly] and Express Wieczorny [Evening Express]. Between 1928 and 1933 went on to study at the Free School of Painting and Drawing in Lublin. In 1932, he turned to the graphic art of the woodcut. His style was influenced by folk art and the engravings of Władysław Skoczylas and Tadeusz Kulisiewicz. He co-founded a painters association called ’Krąg’ [The Circle] in Lublin; its aim, among other things, was to ‘spread the culture of painting across the Eastern Borderlands of Poland’6. At the same time (1933–1935), Rassalski began his studies at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, where he graduated with a diploma. Additionally, between 1933 and 1936 he studied art history at Warsaw University. His works were exhibited at three successive editions of the Lublin Salon (1934–1936) and two major shows in Warsaw: the 1st Winter Salon of the Art Propagation Institute [Instytut Propagandy Sztuki] in 1935, and the Exhibition of painting, engraving and sculpture at the Citizens’ Association [Resursa Obywatelska] in 19379. In 1936 he moved to Warsaw permanently and threw himself into reporting and journalism. He published at Kurier Polski [Polish Courier], Kurier Poranny [Morning Courier], Cześć pracy [Glorious Labour], Zwierciadło [The Mirror] and other papers. He became friends with Jerzy Hulewicz, who was to have a great impact on his artistic development, and took up work as an illustrator of novels and magazines for young readers.