ROMAN ARTYMOWSKI. In the Circle of the Sun catalogue edited by Józef GRABSKI Cracow-Warsaw 2003 232 × 252 mm, Pages: 204 57 full-page colour ill. + 16 b&w and 126 colour photographs. laminated hardback ISBN 83-915130-9-2 On the cover: Landscape CCIV, 1987, watercolour on tissue paper, collage, 64 × 44 cm

Catalogue of an exhibition of Roman Artymowski's painting, held at the Polish Auction House "SZTUKA" Gallery in w Warsaw. A selection of oils, watercolours and graphic works dating from different periods of the artist's activity, including his little-known early "realist" paintings, were on display. Roman Artymowski (1919-1993) was an artist specially sensitive to the slightest nuances of colour and painterly qualities of uncommon textures. This can be seen best in his ephemeral watercolours done on different kinds of paper and Japan tissue where the colour and texture overlap. Critics described them as delicate "as the wings of a butterfly".

Initially a realist, Artymowski gradually distanced himself from figurative painting, heading towards the art informel, and finally adopted a peculiar convention of geometric abstraction. The desert landscape of Iraq, its oriental atmosphere, saturated with mystery proved to be the artist's most potent inspiration. His numerous travels to the Near East bear fruit in form of numerous oils, watercolours and graphic works, sophisticated in their colour set and texture, on which one can recognize the silhouettes of Arab women, the desert sun and the ruins of ancient cities. Artymowski could masterly render the essence of that landscape - the scorching heat of the sun, pouring from the sky and the hot, vibrating air. These transitory effects were achieved by the artist by means of uncommon, new techniques, either self-conceived or revived after centuries of oblivion, or by using unusual materials. He was a master in this craft.

All exhibited works are reproduced in full colour in the catalogue, and the essays are accompanied by archival black-and-white photographs of the artist and his family, of truly artistic quality.

CONTENTS

Piotr MAJEWSKI - Sun Burnt Landscapes

Krystyna CZERNI - A Mirage, or Roman Artymowski's Works on Paper

Ola WOJTKIEWICZ - Whispers and Shouts

List of works

Biography

Exhibitions

Bibliography