Eugeniusz Zak (1884-1926), Untitled
Watercolor on paper glued on cardboard, 27 x 27.7 cm / 23.6 x 24.4 cm in light passe partout.
Signed in the lower right corner.
The work is from the collection of Lucie and Clément Pech*.
*
Clément Pech, born June 28, 1882, was a French military officer and entrepreneur. He began his career in the army in 1902 and served until 1928. He was stationed in Częstochowa from 1918 to 1923, as part of a settlement between the newly formed Polish government and its French counterpart. Under it, French officers assisted in the establishment of Polish military structures, in return for which they received promotions. Clément Pech, then in the rank of lieutenant, was stationed in Częstochowa. He even received the Cross of Valor from the Polish government (a photo of the ID card entitling him to wear the decoration is in the documentation accompanying the painting). In Czestochowa he met Lucia (functioning in France as a Frenchized version of the name Lucie) Henig, who came from a well-to-do Jewish family. The couple married and in 1923. Lucie and Clément moved to France and settled in Saint-Mandé, a wealthy sub-Paris town.
Back in France, Lucie and Clément became friends with many artists. Clément was an artist himself and exhibited his work many times at the Paris Salons. Lucie, on the other hand, was not only characterized by great artistic sensitivity, but her knowledge of Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and even Lithuanian was also a great asset. As a result, she easily established contacts with many École de Paris artists who came from Eastern Europe and often spoke French poorly. So Lucie helped them with administrative matters, translated documents and correspondence, and returned small favors, among other things. According to the story of Frédéric Pech (grandson of Lucie and Clément), his father André (son of the couple) often recalled that his mother used to visit Montparnassie regularly, especially at the famous Le Dome restaurant, where the cream of international artists active in Paris at the time would gather. One of the artists who was among Lucie's circle of acquaintances and friends was Eugene Zak
In his case, the language problem was dropped, as Zak spoke fluent French. Nevertheless, they rotated in the same company, and both were also eager to keep in touch with the country. Moreover, Zak's wife, Jadwiga Kohn, came from Czestochowa, Lucie's hometown, which must have further brought the two couples closer. There is even a possibility that the Zak family and the Pechs met while still in Poland. Although no material evidence makes it possible at the moment to specify when and under what circumstances the meeting took place - still in Poland or already in France - nevertheless Zak and his wife left France after the outbreak of World War I and settled in Częstochowa, where they stayed until around 1921. Clément Pech stayed in Czestochowa at exactly the same time, and that's when he met Lucia. Thus, there is a real possibility that Zak, being very close to France, established contacts with the French officer, especially interested in art, and with his fiancée and later wife, especially since they all turned in similar social circles.
