Born: 1923, Poland
Died: 2006, Gdańsk (aged 82)
Gizela Bachtin-Karłowska was a highly regarded Polish illustrator of children’s books, a theatre scenographer, and a painter. France was her second homeland—already as a teenager she spoke fluent French and felt a strong connection to French culture, particularly to the town of Cordes, where artists’ plein-air workshops and meetings regularly took place.
She studied at the Faculty of Painting and Applied Graphics at the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Sopot, where she refined her skills in illustration and book graphics.
After completing her studies, she began working with the Baltic Opera and Philharmonic in Gdańsk, where she served as a scenographer’s assistant and illustrator.
From 1962 onward, she was professionally associated with the Miniatura Puppet and Actor Theatre in Gdańsk, one of Poland’s most important puppet theatres for children and young audiences. Over the course of seventeen years, she created numerous scenographic designs—including stage sets and puppets—for productions staged not only in Gdańsk but also in other theatres across Poland.
Her scenography could be seen, among others, in the following productions:
The 120 Adventures of Koziołek Matołek – Miniatura Theatre, 1958
The Child of the Star – Miniatura Theatre, 1963
The Flying Windmill – Miniatura Theatre, 1964
as well as many other stage and puppet designs created during her long collaboration with theatre ensembles
Gizela Bachtin-Karłowska gained particular recognition as an illustrator of children’s books, especially fairy tales published in the series Tales from Distant Seas and Oceans (Morskie Publishing House). She illustrated numerous titles, including:
Tales from Distant Seas and Oceans – a collection of stories and fairy tales from cultures around the world (illustrations by the artist)
About Olaf and His Magical Pipe – a Northern fairy tale (illustrations)
Ranira from the Salt Lake – a fairy tale from Madagascar (illustrations)
Shah Kobad and the Talking Parrot – a Persian fairy tale (illustrations)
Beyond Seven Seas, Beyond Seven Islands – a broad collection of fairy tales illustrated by the artist
Her illustrations reveal a wide range of artistic techniques—from gouache, watercolor, and ecoline to crayon, oil, and acrylic—giving her work a rich and vibrant visual character.
In addition to illustration and scenography, Bachtin-Karłowska also developed a strong interest in textile art. After graduating, she worked at the Institute of Artistic Textiles at her alma mater, where the well-known “kołtryny” were produced—printed and painted textiles intended for palaces, castles, and for the Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble.
She mastered the rare gobelin (tapestry) technique and presented her tapestries at international exhibitions, including the Art Biennale in Copenhagen.
Gizela Bachtin-Karłowska was a two-time recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for artistic work for children and young people, one of Poland’s most prestigious cultural honors in this field.
She also received a medal at the 3rd Gdańsk Art Biennale, confirming her strong standing and recognition within artistic and design circles.
