Old Pigeon

*Old Pigeon* (1989) is one of several prints by Ryszard Szymański (1955– ) held in the collection of the National Museum in Szczecin. Birds, fish and human figures are recurring motifs in his work. In the prints created during the martial law period in Poland (1981–1983), these motifs often appear as ragged feathers or menacing, expressionistic crows – an allusion to the Military Council of National Salvation, known colloquially as *Wrona* (the crow). In contrast, the pigeon in this print carries a different set of associations. Traditionally a symbol of peace, reconciliation and love, it appears here as an old bird, framed within a square and emerging from the darkness. It evokes the image of elderly people sitting in windows, quietly observing the world passing by. Often alone, with their best years behind them. Until not long ago – before the internet and mass media flooded our private space – this was a common sight. There is a sense of nostalgia and calm in the silhouette of the bird fading into shadow. But this stillness is disturbed by the cracked, uneven background surrounding the window-like square, hinting at a turbulent past lurking beyond. The person who inspired Szymański to take up art professionally was Max Szoc (1937–1983), a painter, stage designer, poet and cultural animator. Initially, Szymański considered becoming a restorer, then turned to painting, which ultimately left him disappointed. But it led him to printmaking – traditional, labour-intensive techniques he would come to love, particularly intaglio, to which he has remained devoted ever since. Marlena Chybowska-Butler