Bohdan Wróblewski
(b. June 8, 1931, Warsaw – d. May 31, 2017)
Polish graphic artist and illustrator. A pioneer in Polish commercial photography direction.
In 1957, he earned his degree from the studio of Jan Marcin Szancer, a master of Polish illustration, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He specialized in applied graphics, drawing exclusively by hand with exceptional precision using gouache and ink.
Wróblewski was known for his detailed illustrations depicting the history of technological development—particularly in military and civil aviation, automotive history, and rail transport—featured in lexicons and encyclopedias. He also illustrated children’s and young adult books and published several of his own illustrated albums, such as Jaki znak twój? – Orzeł biały, dedicated to the iconography of Poland’s national emblem and the history of Polish military traditions.
He collaborated with various editorial teams for satirical, technical, and children’s magazines, including Przekrój, Motor, Skrzydlata Polska, Szpilki, Płomyczek, and Świerszczyk. He was a pioneer of commercial photography and advertising graphics in Poland. In the 1970s and 1980s, he directed and designed advertising photography for international campaigns by brands such as LOT Polish Airlines and Polski Fiat.
In Poland, he also designed chocolate packaging for the E. Wedel Confectionery Factory, as well as several series of postage stamps for the Polish Post. He was a forerunner in the field of paper model design, creating cut-out paper figures for self-assembly.
In 2002, he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit.
Tadek Niejadek, text by Wanda Chotomska, Biuro Wydawnicze Ruch, 1960
Wesołe odwiedziny, text by Nikolay Nosov, Nasza Księgarnia, 1964
Mój czerwony latawiec, text by Alois Mikulka, Nasza Księgarnia, 1966
O piracie Rum-Barbari i o czymś jeszcze, text by Adam Bahdaj, Biuro Wydawnicze Ruch, 1971
Okulary, text by Julian Tuwim, Nasza Księgarnia, 1979
Wolny mustang, text by Ernest Thompson Seton, Egross, 1992
Air Force Uniforms: Canada, United States of America, text by Andrzej Gałązka, insignia by Piotr Głowacki, uniforms illustrated by Bohdan Wróblewski, Bellona, 1996
Od A do Z, text by Janusz Minkiewicz, Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry, 2009
Praga gada: O pokoju, ed. Przemysław J. Olszewski, Fundacja Animacja, 2014
Smoki: 5 modeli papierowych Bohdana Wróblewskiego, text by Przemysław J. Olszewski, Wydawnictwo Znakomite, 2015
Defensive War of 1939 (series) and FDC envelopes, 1987–1989 – in collaboration with Alojzy Balcerzak
Polish Dragonflies (series) and FDC envelopes, 1988
