Vintage Polish Posters | Private Browkin | Wiktor Gorka

Movie synopsis of Private Browkin (1955): Directed by Ivan Lukinsky, the film is a charming Soviet-era comedy that captures the spirit of post-war Soviet Union through the humorous escapades of its titular character. The film follows the journey of Ivan Brovkin, a clumsy but endearing young man who joins the Soviet Army and undergoes a transformation from an inept civilian to a disciplined soldier. Private Browkin doesn’t fit into life of his village as he constantly does something wrong. After yet another failure he has to join the Soviet Army where he finally begins to improve. Meanwhile he writes letters home to the girl he loves. The poster artist Wiktor Gorka (1922-2004) was one of the founders of the so-called Polish School of Posters. In 1952, Górka obtained a degree in graphic design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków where he was under the supervision of Jerzy Karolak. He studied painting in the studio of Jerzy Nowosielski and Tadeusz Kantor. Between the 50s and the 80s Wiktor Górka worked with the biggest Polish publishers and film distributors. He designed posters (amounting to nearly 300), book and magazine covers, commercial logos and prints. The artist participated in many exhibitions around the world. His posters and projects were awarded in the most important Polish and international competitions. He received second prize in a national competition for the poster 6-year Plan (1949), second prize at the International Film Poster Competition in Karlovy Vary (1962), first prize at the International Competition for Tourist Posters in Berlin (1967), Silver Medal at the Second Polish Poster Biennale in Katowice (1967), and others. His most famous work is the poster design for the cult film Cabaret (1973) directed by Bob Fosse with the memorable performance of Liza Minelli. The poster depicts cabaret dancers’ legs in black stockings as well as Joel Grey’s face in daring makeup, which together form a swastika shape. In 1970, Górka went to Havana with a group of Polish artists to conduct design workshops in Cuba. From there he ended up in Mexico, where he worked as an artist and a teacher. He taught drawing and poster design at prestigious Mexican art schools until the mid-90s. During the 6^th International Poster Bienniale in Mexico in 2000, he received the top award for his contribution to the development of graphic arts in Mexico – Medalla a la Excelencia José Guadalupe Posada.