YOUNG POLAND GROUP OF FIVE. THE FORGOTTEN REBELS

The Group of Five exhibition is the first show in the history of museology dedicated to the activity of this Young Poland group, which existed for less than two and a half years (from August 1905 to February 1908). It also marks the first joint display of its members’ works since their activities at the beginning of the 20th century. This formation, almost entirely forgotten today, consisted of: Leopold Gottlieb, Witold Wojtkiewicz, Wlastimil Hofman, Mieczysław Jakimowicz, and Jan Rembowski.

The exhibition, commemorating the 120th anniversary of the establishment of what is known as the ‘Norwid’ Group, focuses on the accomplishments of students and graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, whose youthful artistic works were a response to avant-garde trends emerging in European art. The joint presentation of these debuting artists should be interpreted as an open rebellion of the young against the Society of Polish Artists ‘Sztuka’ and the art promoted by its representatives, which was rooted in Impressionism, Secessionist decorativeness, and the imperative of a national mission. It was also, perhaps primarily, a stand against mechanisms of exclusion, and finally, an objection to the lack of access to official exhibition venues. The young were drawn to new issues and formal solutions derived from Symbolism, particularly French, German, and Belgian, as well as the works of Stanisław Wyspiański, Wojciech Weiss, and Jacek Malczewski. This was a generation of painters striving to change the face of existing art, steering their interests beyond the mission of national, patriotic, or social duty imposed on Polish art at the time. They opposed the functional purpose of art and moved away from imposed moralising or utilitarian obligations. Through their work, they aligned themselves with the currents of European Modernism, characterised by an ‘expressionistic’ mindset promoting human subjectivity and the striving for an unbounded, direct externalisation of the ‘self.’

The presentation of the Group of Five’s achievements aims to demonstrate the directions of development in Polish art during the first decade of the 20th century, and to encourage the audience to explore the issues engaging the young artists who created alongside the outstanding figures considered today as the icons of the Young Poland movement. By design, the exhibition combines a monographic approach with a thematic focus. On the one hand, it introduces creative individuals united not by a manifesto (which was never formulated), but by a rebellious idea, shared through collegial and friendly relations, of searching for ‘their own paths to express their thoughts.’[1] On the other hand, it highlights the main themes and motifs that emerged both during the short period of the group’s activity, as well as in the years preceding its formation and following its dissolution. Thus, the chronological scope of the works exhibited – many presented for the first time – spans from around 1900 to the years of World War I. Extending the timeframe serves to provide a fuller presentation of the achievements of these young artists and to capture the processes shaping their creative attitudes. An integral part of the exhibition consists of works by artists who were temporarily associated with the Group of Five through participation in joint displays, including: Tymon Niesiołowski, Henryk Hochman, and Bronisława Rychter-Janowska. Furthermore, the exhibition is enriched by the works of Odilon Redon, Xawery Dunikowski, and Olga Boznańska.
[1] Gottlieb 1905, p. 472.

Exhibition Curator: Irena Buchenfeld
Exhibition Coordinator: Ewelina Zając