Milestones in Polish Cultural Awareness

Adam FITAS

Katedra Teorii i Antropologii Literatury, Instytut Filologii Polskiej, Wydział Humanistyczny, Katolicki Uniwersytet Jana Pawła II, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland , Poland

Abstract

Referring to Janusz Tazbir’s article on the milestones of Polish historical awareness, published thirty years ago, the author offers a novel perspective on the most important monuments of the history of Poland. The works described in the paper include: the Gniezno Door, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity at the Lublin Castle, paintings: Rejtan. Upadek Polski [Rejtan, or the Fall of Poland] by Jan Matejko, and Rozstrzelania VI [Execution VI] by Andrzej Wróblewski, as well as W samo południe [High Noon], a poster by Tomasz Sarnecki. Those iconic masterpieces may be considered as each making a breakthrough in the history of Polish culture. Due to their visual nature, the artifacts in question are more accessible to international public than works of purely verbal character and might be effectively used to present and discuss Polish cultural identity.

Keywords:

Polish culture, Polish history, masterpiece, cultural identity