Barokowe przedstawienia Emaus w poezji Kazimierza Wójtowicza
Baroque images from Emmaus in the poetry of Kazimierz Wójtowicz

Summary/Abstract: Kazimierz Wójtowicz (born 1948) is a contemporary priest-poet. In his lyrical works, he constantly develops the biblical theme of Emmaus. He has written over 80 songs about this theme. This article discusses six ekphrases written by Kazimierz Wójtowicz about paintings by baroque masters, depicting the scene that took place in Emmaus. These are the following poems: Caravaggio: Christ in Emmaus (1601), Diego Velázquez: Kitchen girl with a supper scene in Emmaus in the background (1618), Diego Velázquez: Supper in Emmaus (1620), Rembrandt: Christ in Emmaus (drawing, 1629), Rembrandt: Supper in Emmaus (1629) and Rembrandt: Christ in Emmaus (1648). Describing baroque canvases using the language of poetry, Wójtowicz draws attention primarily to the evangelical meaning of the paintings. Usually, he is interested in the dynamics of the scene, the emotionality of the painted characters, and the lively gestures of the apostles. He is somewhat less interested in the other baroque features of the paintings, incl. vivid colors, operating with light, contrasts. Rembrandt’s ekphrase: Supper in Emmaus (1629) is based on an interesting concept consisting in a perfunctory treatment of the most important element of a work (in the opinion of art historians, which determines the uniqueness of a painting) and focusing on secondary motives. In the poems analyzed by Wójtowicz, only the baroque style resonates. The author diversifies the lyrical monologue with metaphors, antitheses, and biblical quotations, but artistic media appear with a moderate intensity. Wójtowicz’s ekphrases are “baroque” because of the topic taken up, not because of the organization of the linguistic layer.

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