Vintage Posters | The Merry Widow | Jerzy Krechowicz

The Austro-Hungarian composer and conductor Franz Lehár was the leading composer of operetta in the twentieth century, and responsible for giving the genre renewed vitality. He wrote some 30 operettas, the most famous and enduring of which is The Merry Widow (1905), which has achieved worldwide popularity. The poster artist Jerzy Krechowicz graduated from the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Poland, in 1962 under the mentorship of Professor Stanisław Borysowski. Awarded the title of professor in 1992, Krechowicz made significant contributions to the arts throughout his career. From 1996 to 2002, he served as the rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, demonstrating his leadership and dedication to artistic education. Krechowicz’s talents extended beyond poster design; he excelled as a set designer, collaborating with renowned theaters such as the Rozmów Theater, the Baltic State Opera, the Wybrzeże Theater, the Musical Theater in Gdynia, the Dramatyczny Theater in Elbląg, and the Miniatura Theater. Additionally, Krechowicz lent his expertise as a set designer and artistic consultant to television productions from 1972 to 1978. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of artists despite his passing in 2023.