Antoni SUCHANEK (1901-1982), Ruins of Old Warsaw - N.P. Maria Church, 1945

autolithography, paper, 23.5 x 32 cm, dated title on plate and signed in pencil by the author under the composition. Edition of 300 copies. Warsaw 1945.

Autolithography - lithograph, created by the author - graphic artist directly on the lithographic stone. In the 19th century there were many lithographic workshops where drawings created by artists were transferred by hand by artisan-lithographers onto lithographic stones.

Antoni Suchanek (born April 27, 1901 in Rzeszów, died November 19, 1982 in Gdynia) - Polish painter, marine artist.He settled in Gdynia, where he drew inspiration from the emerging city, port and shipyard - in which he was a pioneer. He created from the perspective of Kamienna Góra and Kępa Oksywska. He received first prize for his Panorama of Gdynia II at the Third Maritime Exhibition. When the September campaign of 1939 began, he replaced Maciej Nehring as director of the "Zachęta" museum. He supervised the securing and packing of the museum's collection, including Jan Matejko's "Battle of Grunwald." In 1946 he returned to Gdynia and settled in Orlowo. He created a chronicle illustrating the rise from the ruins of the destroyed port (the Shipyard Builds series). He was an active participant in artistic life in the Tri-City, which resulted in the creation of the Group of Polish Marine Artists in the artistic cafe Cyganeria. He was supported in this by Marian Mokwa. He painted illustrations for many magazines published on the Coast. He created decorations for ships, making paintings for the messes MS Oliwa, MS Koszalin and MS Modlin. He was a frequent participant in individual exhibitions.