Collection of Jacek Malczewski's paintings return from Poznań to Lviv

The canvases belong to the collection of Lviv National Art Gallery. They were evacuated from Lviv to Poznań to protect them from the barbaric Russian bombing of Ukrainian cities. The date of the transport of the artwork was kept secret due to security reasons.

Boxes containing 34 paintings by Jacek Malczewski, one of the most revered Polish painters, reached Poznań on Nov. 25, 2022. Three days later, the first visitors could admire the amazing collection as well see the boxes it had been delivered in.

The paintings were exhibited next to Malczewski's work from the Poznań museum collection, which is one of this institution's flagship assets.

From the very start it was underscored that the exhibition titled "I Go into the World and I Endure. Paintings by Jacek Malczewski from the Boris Voznytskyi National Art Gallery in Lviv" was "a gesture of aid and solidarity in the preservation of heritage and, as such, prompts reflection on its significance".

"It is a story about the fragility of the legacy of our ancestors; although it shapes our identity and thus contributes to the world’s culture, in the face of war it is exposed to the risk of being destroyed, ignored and passed over in silence. The exhibition is not a provocation to propose further erudite interpretations of Malczewski’s art, but rather an attempt to reinterpret it in the light of the current events we are witnessing. It is a multifaceted story about the work and solidarity of museum professionals, about what heritage is as well as about what and why should be protected," the National Museum in Poznań said.

"Malczewski’s oeuvre developed in the shadow of the tempestuous and dramatic history of Poland. Today, this art is once again faced with war and is a witness to its savagery. Like refugees seeking asylum, Malczewski’s paintings arrive in Poland with a relief transport from Ukraine," the curators underscored.

The exhibition was supposed to end by March 31, 2023, but because it was so popular, it was extended by the end of October. It could not be extended any further as the Poznań museum was beginning renovation. More than 100,000 visitors came to see the Ukrainian collection.

Director of the National Museum in Poznań, Tomasz Łęcki, said that although the exhibition was not "particularly spectacular," it was "very authentic". "We saw this exhibition was not just visited, attended, checked off: it was experienced."

He also admitted no one in the museum had expected such a reception. "I think it shows that art is never detached from reality, during both creation and reception. The connection with reality was what had determined the reception of this exhibition. We are very proud of it," he added.

After more than one year in Poznań, the evacuated artwork has returned to Ukraine. "We declared we were ready to continue storing these paintings in our storage facilities, in good and safe conditions. Our offer was declined and the paintings were transfered back. I see that Ukrainian museums, including those in Lviv, organize exhibitions in various museums and so maybe these works will return someplace else in Poland or Europe," Łęcki said.

He added that Lviv curators not only knew how to ensure safety to their artwork, but also to take advantage of the difficult times they are in to promote Ukranian culture and their collections.

"It's very important for them. In France, Germany, Italy I have heard people saying that until Russia launched this full-scale aggression, Ukraine had been a misunderstood country there," Tomasz Łęcki stressed.