Born 1907 – Died 1967
Graphic artist and draftsman; professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and Warsaw
Andrzej Jurkiewicz was a Polish graphic artist active in the first half of the 20th century. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków under Fryderyk Pautsch and Wojciech Weiss, where he was shaped by both classical painting techniques and emerging modernist trends.
Throughout his career, Jurkiewicz produced numerous graphic series—etchings depicting street scenes and sports-themed works—executed in a restrained, economical style. He also designed book covers, created illustrations, bookplates (ex libris), and in the final phase of his life, he turned toward abstraction. He was the author of the textbook “Methods of Artistic Printmaking”, which reflected his deep technical knowledge and dedication to the craft.
Jurkiewicz’s career unfolded during a time of significant artistic and political upheaval. Born in 1907, his work was shaped by the turbulent interwar period, the trauma of World War II, and the ideological pressures of postwar Poland. He belonged to a generation of artists striving to develop their own visual language in the shadow of two world wars and shifting political ideologies.
His work reflects a synthesis of form and content, with clear influences of Modernism, Expressionism, and, at times, Constructivism. His compositions reveal a strong sense of structure—often geometric and rhythmically balanced—with a sensitive use of line and color. He worked in a variety of media, including oil painting, woodcut, and linocut, demonstrating high craftsmanship across techniques.
The color palette in his paintings was often subdued yet emotionally charged—sometimes symbolic, often atmospheric. His subject matter ranged from figurative motifs to landscapes, frequently rendered in a synthetic or abstract manner. Despite his ties to avant-garde movements, Jurkiewicz never completely abandoned narrative; his works maintain a deep emotional resonance and reflect on the human condition.
Though not among the most widely recognized names in Polish 20th-century art today, Andrzej Jurkiewicz’s oeuvre deserves renewed attention. His work sits within a broader narrative of the development of modern art in Poland, engaging in both dialogue with Western artistic trends and confrontation with the political realities of the Eastern Bloc.
He left behind a diverse and thoughtful body of work—still not fully explored—that contributes meaningfully to the legacy of modern Polish graphic art.
