Stefan Mrożewski

Stefan Mrożewski was a Polish graphic artist, book illustrator, and painter. He began painting as a child and studied at the School of Applied Arts in Łódź, the National School of Decorative Arts in Poznań, the Free School of Painting and Drawing in Kraków, and the School of Fine Arts in Warszawa. In 1925 he continued his studies in Paris and had his first exhibitions. There he made his living mainly as a book illustrator for famous authors such as Rilke, Cervantes, and Dostojewski. He produced mostly woodcuts and drawings, but also stained glass and wall paintings, pastels, and ceramics. Most of his life Mrożewski lived and worked abroad, in France, the Netherlands, England, Wales, and Italy. During World War II, he joined the Polish resistance, and after the war, he lived again in Paris and London until 1951, before emigrating to the United States with his family.

Mrożewski illustrated biblical texts and scenes from Greek mythology. His favorite subjects were religious topics, fairytales, medieval scenes, and genre scenes, such as urban and rural areas, and flowers. His life’s work was 100 illustrations for Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. Dawniej i teraz (Past and Now) from 1936 was a woodcut in the format 32.0 x 38.2 cm, which he made for the art competitions showing the Olympic rings at the bottom left.