Paulina Wojnowska. 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 Krakow, and the funds obtained from the sale of the portfolio were to contribute to the theatre's pension fund.

Karol Frycz portrayed the actress Paulina Wojnowska (c. 1848-1921) in play Wesele Figara [Marriage of Figaro] by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. The play, a critique of feudalism and aristocracy, recounts the adventures of Figaro's servant, whose cunning enables him to outwit his master and win the hand of the beautiful Susanna.

Paulina Wojnowska was associated primarily with the Municipal Theatres in Kraków and Lviv, and she was known primarily for her character and comedy roles, while her temperament and rare comic power were often decisive for the success of her performances.

The actress's stately and massive figure, static in its pose, has been caricatured, and her face, frozen in a mute grimace, emphasises the grotesque nature of the portrait of Frycz - an artist whose works, apart from painting and graphic art, included mainly stage design and applied arts. He started his stage design activity in the cabaret "Zielony Balonik" [Green Balloon], associated with the Michalikowa Cave, for which he designed interiors in the spirit of Young Poland.

Anna Hałata