Title: [1] illegible; [2] "Calcutta".
Author: Felix Topolski
Item description:
Notes: Preserved entire plate (one side)
About the author: Feliks Topolski (actually Felicjan Tylpel) (14.08.1907 Warsaw - 24.08.1989 London) Polish painter, draughtsman and graphic artist associated with Warsaw until 1933 and London from 1935. He studied from 1925 at the School of Fine Arts (SSP) in Warsaw under Tadeusz Pruszkowski, graduating in 1930. He was a member of the Free Painters' Lodge group (later the Painters' Lodge), founded by Pruszkowski's students. He made his artistic debut 1927 designing covers for W. Hugo's novel "Year 93". Since 1928, as a cartoonist, he cooperated with the Warsaw press, illustrated "Polish Drinking Dictionary" by Julian Tuwim, and authored wall paintings. He left for further studies on an artistic trip to Italy and France 1933. Since 1935 he stayed in London as a correspondent of "Literary News" and at the same time began to illustrate books by George Bernard Shaw and design theatrical scenery. He quickly gained popularity and began working as a cartoonist from 1941 with prestigious British and American magazines as a war correspondent from the many fronts of World War II. This later brought him the title of war artist and membership in the Royal Academy in London, as well as commissions from the royal house (mainly wall paintings). After the war, he continued to travel extensively around the world including India. From 1953 to 1970 he published a graphic series in lithography, "Topolski's Chronicles," documenting major world events. Another important achievement was his painterly series "Memoir of the 20th Century," created from 1975 in his studio (now a permanent exhibition of his work) near Waterloo Station under the Hungerford Bridge arcade in London. His drawings (as well as his graphics) were a form of documentation, created on the spot of events, the works are characterized by expression and dynamism, apparent chaos and a kind of nervousness, while his portraits of people border on caricature. Paintings are characterized by "graphicness", expression, limited range of colors; see Encyclopedia of Polish Emigration and Polonia. T. 5 pp. 132-133 and Polski słownik biograficzny (PSB) vol. 54 ss. 391-396
Additional information:
Condition:
Item in very nice condition, publisher's folded
