Watercolor, light brown paper; 30 x 52 cm (in st. frame);
signed descriptive. once dated l. d.: jFałat Ring (Silesia) 1919.
The painting has a minimal price.
Attached to the painting is a confirmation of authenticity issued by the Art-Konsultant Agency of Adam Konopacki.
In January 1919, upon hearing of the Czech attack, although he was already 66 years old, he reported on January 27, 1919 to the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish army, Colonel Franciszek Latinik. He was assigned to the command of a squadron of the 2nd "Rokitniański" Cavalry Regiment quartered in Piersc. The war for Cieszyn Silesia, which began on January 23, 1919, had a very unfavorable course for us. The Czechs, taking advantage of their superiority and Colonel Latinik's mistakes, after 4 days of fighting, on January 27, 1919 occupied Cieszyn, without a fight, and the Polish army withdrew to Skoczow and to the line of the Vistula River. Many Polish soldiers were heartbroken by the retreat, and many abandoned their units. Those who remained were exhausted from fighting in extreme conditions (temperatures reached minus 20 °C). Volunteering for the front in such a situation was an example of exceptional courage and patriotism.
Due to his age, Julian Falat no longer served with rifle in hand on the front line, but helped in the command of the squadron. Above all, with his presence he gave encouragement to the cavalrymen performing difficult reconnaissance and patrol duty. Although the fighting ceased late in the evening of January 30 and a truce was established, it was not at all safe. There were still exchanges of fire along the demarcation line, and in Pierstec itself there was a clash with armed Silesian soldiers in early February 1919. For his service, Fałat received the Second Class Cross "For the defense of Silesia 1919," and in 1921 he received the Bronze Cross of Valor "On the field of glory 1920."
Master Fałat remained in service with the Light Cavalry for 3 weeks and, as described by the Kraków-based "Nowosci Ilustrowane", during this time he also painted officers and soldiers and defensive positions "capturing them in exquisite landscapes."
Excerpt from a letter from General Franciszek Latinik to Julian Fałat dated November 19, 1921. - In the collection of the Museum "Fałatówka":
....Further congratulations to you for the "Cross of Valor", which you received for the Czech invasion in 1919 - because I recognized that during the heavy fighting near Skoczów, when the soldier waved weak in spirit, you appeared as an old virago in the ranks of the Cheval Legers to give back to our beloved land zeal and brave heart, full of sacrifice. Your presence at the front worked a lot, the soldier and officer seeing the desire to help the good cause, took the example, admired a true son of the fatherland, and raised in spirit performed the service with redoubled zeal....
https://tramwajcieszynski.pl/mistrz-falat-na-wojnie-z-czechami/
