Kossak W., WSPOMNIENIA, 1913 [binding, numerous illustrations].

Kossak, Wojciech (1856-1942)
Memoirs
Warsaw 1913, published by Gebethner & Wolff ; Cracow : G. Gebethner & Co.

pp [14], 334, [11] pp. plates of illustrations (including many in color]; 25cm, period cloth, richly embossed and gilt, illustration on cover
Very good condition, all illustrations, illustrations preceded by tissue guards, nice copy .

"Kossak's 'Memoirs' appeared in print in Krakow in 1912 (and a second edition in 1913), in luxurious layout, with illustrations specially selected and executed by the author, eliciting many favorable reviews and comments [...]. 'Memoirs' [...] bring relatively little information about Kossak's painting work. They do, however, give us an idea, for example, of the enormity of the preparatory work he had to undertake as a painter of panoramas. Thorough studies of the literature concerning either the Battle of Raclawice [...] or the battles of Somosierra [...] were supplemented by trips to the sites of these battles [...]. Extremely vivid in 'Memoirs' is the description of the then newly discovered Zakopane, expeditions to the Tatra Mountains led by T. Chałubiński, climbing the peaks, evenings by bonfires and highland dances - one of the first and more accurate in our literature [...]. However, the artist was most strongly influenced by his stay in Vienna and Berlin [...]. Descriptions of glittering parties and balls, uniforms dripping with gold, exquisite toilets, as well as galloping horses, packs of dogs and the sound of military and hunting trumpets - interspersed with anecdotes, characterizations of customs and court etiquette - testified to the artist's ability to observe, observe and transmit observations" (from K. Olszanski's preface to "Memoirs" (War. 1971, pp. 33-37)).