Jadwiga Mrozowska and Józef Sosnowski as Psyche and Eros. 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 designed by Young Poland artists: W. Bystrzyński, K. Frycz, S. Kuczborski, A. Procajłowicz, S. Szreniawa-Rzecki, K. Sichulski, W. Wojtkiewicz regulars at the famous Jama Michalikowa, in the atmosphere of which the idea for the portfolio was born. It was printed free of charge thanks to Zenon Pruszyński, who ran a famous lithography workshop in Kraków, and the funds obtained from the sale of the portfolio were to contribute to the theatre's pension fund.

Karol Frycz portrayed Jadwiga Stanisława Mrozowska-Toeplitz (1880-1966) and Józef Sosnowski (1863-1933) in the roles of Psyche and Blaks in Jerzy Żuławski's drama Eros and Psyche, about the struggle of spirit (Psyche) with matter (Blaks).

Both artists were associated, among others, with the Municipal Theatre in Krakow, where the play premiered on 27 February 1904. Sosnowski was considered one of the most outstanding tragedians of his generation, while Mrozowska, despite her lack of stage experience and acting training, quite quickly became popular. In 1907, she left for Italy, and travelling became her passion. During an expedition to Asia she discovered, among other things, a pass in the Pamir Mountains, which was given her name.

The conflict of two opposing attitudes represented by Psyche and Blaks was captured by Frycz thanks to the composition of the scene based on the contrast between the characters. The massive, dominating figure of Blaks, dressed in a black tailcoat, who personifies the mundane and the material, towers over the delicate Psyche, dressed in an airy, frilly gown. The opposition of the figures is also defined by formal differences between the man's figure, treated synthetically with a flat spot, and Psyche's contoured silhouette.

When characterising both figures, Frycz does not avoid the grotesque and exaggeration typical of caricature and used in the remaining panels of Portfolio. Apart from painting and graphic arts, his works included mainly theatre scenography and applied arts. The artist started his stage design activity in the cabaret "Zielony Balonik" [The Green Balloon], associated with the Michalikowa Cave, for which he designed interior decorations in the spirit of Young Poland.

Anna Hałata