Marian Kratochwil (1906–1997), painter, printmaker, was born in Kosów (now in the Ukraine) and died in London. Of the varied and extensive output of this artist, the PMA collection possesses a collection of twenty-five war graphics which were created in 1941, 1943, and 1946, during his stay in Scotland, and are a startling record of the artist’s survival and reflection, recalling the September campaign (Battle at Kutno [1, 2], Trenches, Crime or Heroism), shock on hearing news of the crimes perpetrated in Poland by Germans and Russians (Crime, Massive Graves, No End to Crime), and lastly, the lot of homeless wanderers (Exile, Emigration).
Art of Marian Kratochwil
Art Collections
Initially, the Museum of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America was focused chiefly on the gathering of historical materials, but changed its profile in 1941when it came into possession of exhibits from the Polish Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair of 1939–1940. Paintings, graphics, sculptures, and objects of artistic craftsmanship were a significant component of this exposition. Their arrival began the collection of art, which expanded systematically by way of purchases and donations. At present, they may be separated into several large groups: the above-mentioned exhibits from the New York World’s Fair of 1939–1940; the paintings and graphics of the People’s Republic of Poland; Polish posters of the 20th century; and the art of individuals whose work consists of 20 or more creations each: Władysław T. Benda, Marian Kratochwil, Stefan Mrożewski, Michał Rekucki, and Maria Werten.
