W. Kossak - Memoirs. 1913.

KOSSAK Wojciech - Memoirs. With 92 illustracies in the text and 8 in color on separate pages. Kraków 1913; Nakł. G. Gebethner & Co. 4, pp. [14], 348, plates 8 (including 6 in color). Bound in period fl., upper trim in gilt.
Maliszewski 3653. One plate is missing (according to the census "Cherokee in the New World"), binding rubbed and soiled, inside paper yellowing in places, otherwise good condition. Besides illustrations on plates (preserved tissue guards) numerous illustrations in the text. Binding by Karol Wójcik of Krakow (blind stamp of bookbinder on back cover)."'Wspomnienia' by Kossak appeared in print in Krakow in 1912 (and second edition in 1913), in luxurious layout, with illustrations specially selected and made by the author, evoking many favorable reviews and comments [...]. 'Memoirs' [...] bring relatively little information about Kossak's painting work. They do, however, give us an idea, for example, of the enormity of the preparatory work he had to undertake as a painter of panoramas. Thorough studies of the literature concerning either the Battle of Raclawice [...] or the battles of Somosierra [...] were supplemented by trips to the sites of these battles [...]. Extremely vivid in 'Memoirs' is the description of the then newly discovered Zakopane, expeditions to the Tatra Mountains led by T. Chałubiński, climbing peaks, evenings by bonfires and highland dances - one of the first and more accurate in our literature [...]. However, the artist was most strongly influenced by his stay in Vienna and Berlin [...]. Descriptions of glittering parties and balls, uniforms dripping with gold, exquisite toilets, as well as galloping horses, packs of dogs and the sound of military and hunting trumpets - interspersed with anecdotes, characterizations of customs and court etiquette - testified to the artist's ability to observe, observe and convey observations" (from K. Olszanski's preface to "Memoirs" (War. 1971, pp. 33-37)).