Jadwiga Mrozowska and Andrzej Mielewski as Klara and Albin. Melpomene’s Portfolio

The graphic work comes from Teka Melpomeny [Melpomene Portfolio] published in 1904 in Kraków under the direction of S. Szreniawa-Rzecki. The portfolio contains almost 40 lithographic caricatures depicting actors from Krakow's theatres in a satirical manner. They were prepared by Young Poland artists: W. Bystrzyński, K. Frycz, S. Kuczborski, A. Procajłowicz, S. Szreniawa-Rzecki, K. Sichulski, W. Wojtkiewicz - all regulars at the famous Jama Michalika. The prints were made free of charge thanks to Zenon Pruszyński, who ran a famous Kraków lithography workshop, and the funds obtained from the sale of the portfolio were to contribute to the theatre's pension fund.

Witold Wojtkiewicz portrayed Jadwiga Stanisława Mrozowska-Toeplitz and Andrzej Mielewski as Klara and Albin in Aleksander Fredro's play Śluby panieńskie [Maidens' Vows]. Both artists were associated, among others, with the Municipal Theatre in Kraków. Mielewski, born Andrzej Sidor (Sydor) (1867-1916), collaborated with Stanisław Wyspiański and Tadeusz Pawlikowski as a theatre director and actor. Jadwiga Mrozowska (1880-1966), apart from Kraków, played on the stages of Warsaw, Łódź, Vilnius and Grodno. In 1907, she left for Italy. Her passion was travelling. During an expedition to Asia she discovered, among other things, a pass in the Pamir Mountains, which was named after her.

In a satirical scene depicting Klara sitting at a table and Albin wiping away his tears, Wojtkiewicz uses the grotesque and exaggeration characteristic of caricature, particularly visible in the male figure. The figures, frozen in their poses and resembling marionettes, were drawn with a soft, flowing line, typical of the artist. Wojtkiewicz, one of the most original artists of Young Poland, published his first caricatures in "Liberum Veto", "Chochoł" [Straw Man], "Kurier Warszawski" [Warsaw Courier] and "Wędrowiec" [Wanderer]. As a caricaturist, he cooperated with the Zielony Balonik [Green Balloon] cabaret, creating, among other things, invitations to cabaret shows taking place in Michalik's Den.

Anna Hałata