Konstanty Laszczka
Encyclopedia
Konstanty Laszczka was a Polish
sculptor, painter, graphic artist, as well as professor and rector
of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts
in Kraków. Laszczka became the Rector of the Academy in 1911, however, for family reasons he resigned from this function in 1912.
Laszczka was born into a large farming family in Masovia, the son of Antoni Laszczka and his wife Katarzyna, from Kupce
village. His talent was first discovered by the Ostrowscy family of landed gentry who sponsored his art studies in Warsaw in 1885 under the tutorage of Jan Kryński and Ludwik Pyrowicz.
Soon later Laszczka received a scholarship from the Polish Society of Visual Arts (Towarzystwo Sztuk Pięknych) called "Zachęta" and went to Paris
in 1891. While in France
, he studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
Academy. He received directions from such artists as Jean-Antoine Mercié, Alexandre Falguiere
and Jean Léon Gérôme. He was also involved in the arts movement of the French Polonia
. In 1897 Laszczka returned to Poland under foreign partitions
and became a teacher in Warsaw
.
In 1899 at the invitation of painter Julian Fałat, Laszczka settled in Kraków where he became the professor at the Academy of Fine Arts. In years 1900-1935 he was a director at the Sculpture Department there.
philosophy of the Young Poland
Movement. Among his students were: Stanisław Jackowski, Bolesław Biegas
, Xawery Dunikowski
, Franciszek Mączyński and Olga Niewska among others. In years 1900-1910 he also cooperated as graphic designer and sculptor with ceramic factory of Józef Niedźwiecki in nearby Dębniki. His son, Bogdan Laszczka, became an architect and activist of the Polish Tatra Society
. Laszczka died in Kraków at the end of the Stalinist period
and was buried there at the famous Rakowicki Cemetery
.
In his work Konstanty Laszczka followed the example of his master, the French sculptor Auguste Rodin
. The influence is most evident in a series of female nude
studies, sculpted around the turn of the century and based on symbolic themes. The earliest statue called "Zima (Konik polny)" (Winter. The grasshopper) was made in 1895; later, Laszczka created more female nudes overwhelmed with emotions, such as "Żal" (Grief) in 1901, and "Zasmucona" (Overwhelmed with Sadness) 1901–1902 now at a National Gallery
(photo). His connection with the Art Nouveau
movement emanated from statues such as "W nieskończoność" (Eternally) from 1896–1897, "Nostalgia" (1903) and - inspired by Edward Munch - "Krzyk" (The Scream) from 1902. He focused above all on sculpture, but also painted portraits, made medals, portrait medallions and occasional plaques. In the late period of his artistic career he became interested in fired ceramics, with subject matter drawn from religious, folk and animal themes.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
sculptor, painter, graphic artist, as well as professor and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts
Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts
The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, or Kraków Academy of Fine Arts , located in Kraków, Poland, is the oldest Polish fine-arts academy, established in 1818.It is a state-run university that offers 5- and 6-year Master's degree programs...
in Kraków. Laszczka became the Rector of the Academy in 1911, however, for family reasons he resigned from this function in 1912.
Laszczka was born into a large farming family in Masovia, the son of Antoni Laszczka and his wife Katarzyna, from Kupce
Kupce
Kupce is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Korytnica, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Korytnica, west of Węgrów, and north-east of Warsaw.-References:...
village. His talent was first discovered by the Ostrowscy family of landed gentry who sponsored his art studies in Warsaw in 1885 under the tutorage of Jan Kryński and Ludwik Pyrowicz.
Soon later Laszczka received a scholarship from the Polish Society of Visual Arts (Towarzystwo Sztuk Pięknych) called "Zachęta" and went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1891. While in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
Academy. He received directions from such artists as Jean-Antoine Mercié, Alexandre Falguiere
Alexandre Falguière
Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguière was a French sculptor and painter.He was born in Toulouse...
and Jean Léon Gérôme. He was also involved in the arts movement of the French Polonia
Polonia
The Polish diaspora refers to people of Polish origin who live outside Poland. The Polish diaspora is also known in modern Polish language as Polonia, which is the name for Poland in Latin and in many other Romance languages....
. In 1897 Laszczka returned to Poland under foreign partitions
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
and became a teacher in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
In 1899 at the invitation of painter Julian Fałat, Laszczka settled in Kraków where he became the professor at the Academy of Fine Arts. In years 1900-1935 he was a director at the Sculpture Department there.
Professional career
While in Kraków, Konstanty Laszczka became close friends with Stanisław Wyspiański and Leon Wyczółkowski. He was one of the founding members of the Society of Polish Artists called "Sztuka" (Art), with the aestheticAesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
philosophy of the Young Poland
Young Poland
Young Poland is a modernist period in Polish visual arts, literature and music, covering roughly the years between 1890 and 1918. It was a result of strong aesthetic opposition to the ideas of Positivism...
Movement. Among his students were: Stanisław Jackowski, Bolesław Biegas
Bolesław Biegas
Bolesław Biegas was a Polish surrealist artist , best known for his "vampire-as-femme fatale" style of painting. Biegas was born in Koziczyn, Poland, and studied art under Konstanty Laszczka at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.Biegas created in Paris, France, a small museum for his...
, Xawery Dunikowski
Xawery Dunikowski
Xawery Dunikowski was a Polish sculptor and artist, notable for surviving Auschwitz concentration camp, and best known for his Neo-Romantic sculptures and Auschwitz-inspired art.- Biography :...
, Franciszek Mączyński and Olga Niewska among others. In years 1900-1910 he also cooperated as graphic designer and sculptor with ceramic factory of Józef Niedźwiecki in nearby Dębniki. His son, Bogdan Laszczka, became an architect and activist of the Polish Tatra Society
PTTK
Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno-Krajoznawcze, PTTK, is a Polish non-governmental tourist organization founded in 1950...
. Laszczka died in Kraków at the end of the Stalinist period
Socialist realism in Poland
Socialist realism in Poland was an official Communist doctrine used by the pro-Soviet government in the process of forcible Stalinization of the postwar People's Republic of Poland. The policy was introduced in 1949 by a decree of the Polish United Workers' Party Minister Włodzimierz Sokorski...
and was buried there at the famous Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery is one of the best known cemeteries of Poland, located in the centre of Kraków. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 Stare Miasto meaning "Old Town" – not to be confused with the historic Kraków Old Town further west...
.
In his work Konstanty Laszczka followed the example of his master, the French sculptor Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
. The influence is most evident in a series of female nude
Art nude
An art nude is a work of art that takes the naked human form as its dominant subject. The term is used for painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.-Western tradition:...
studies, sculpted around the turn of the century and based on symbolic themes. The earliest statue called "Zima (Konik polny)" (Winter. The grasshopper) was made in 1895; later, Laszczka created more female nudes overwhelmed with emotions, such as "Żal" (Grief) in 1901, and "Zasmucona" (Overwhelmed with Sadness) 1901–1902 now at a National Gallery
National Museum, Kraków
The National Museum in Kraków , established in 1879, is the main branch of Poland's National Museum, which has many permanent collections around the country.-History:...
(photo). His connection with the Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
movement emanated from statues such as "W nieskończoność" (Eternally) from 1896–1897, "Nostalgia" (1903) and - inspired by Edward Munch - "Krzyk" (The Scream) from 1902. He focused above all on sculpture, but also painted portraits, made medals, portrait medallions and occasional plaques. In the late period of his artistic career he became interested in fired ceramics, with subject matter drawn from religious, folk and animal themes.