Vintage Polish Posters | Fantazy | Wiktor Sadowski

“Fantazy” is a drama in verse consisting of five acts, written by Juliusz Słowacki in Paris in the 1840’s, unfinished by the poet and unpublished during his lifetime. The first edition of the work appeared in 1866. The story focuses on the love of Diana, the daughter of the impoverished Count Respekt, for Jan, a former insurgent, exiled to Siberia. The theme of romantic love, the nobility of Jan and Major Hawrylowicz, are contrasted with the pathetic relationship of Count Fantazy and Countess Idalia and the spiritual decline of the aristocracy for which money is the highest value. The poster artist Wiktor Sadowski, born in Poland in 1956, is a Polish artist working in illustration and painting. He graduated in 1981 from the Academy of Fine Arts after working in Henryk Tomaszewski´s studio. He has won several prestigious awards for his art, such as the Gold Medal, XI Biennale of Polish Posters, 1985. He is known for his brooding, surreal art. His list of clients expands far outside his native country to include both Europe and North America. He has created posters for theaters throughout the United States, including the New York City Opera, and illustrations for annual reports and publications such as Time, Glamour, the Washington Post and the New York Times.