Między konstruktywizmem a surrealizmem. Nadia Léger i „L’Art Contemporain”
Between Constructivism and Surrealism: Nadia Léger and "L'Art Contemporain"

Summary/Abstract: The publishing project “L’Art Contemporain – Sztuka Współczesna” (1929–1930) is typically examined in the context of the critical work of avant-garde poet Jan Brzękowski, while the role of the painter Nadia Léger (then known as Wanda Cho­dasiewicz-Grabowska), the initiator and editor of the periodical, is often marginal­ised. The artist was responsible for selecting the works to be reproduced – a role that had a crucial impact on the character of the magazine, as did the publication of theoretical texts by her colleagues. This article seeks to adopt a reverse perspec­tive and examine “L’Art Contemporain” through Léger’s eyes – as a platform from which she not only led the editorial team, but also helped shape the magazine’s identity. Léger’s editorial activity also had a significant impact on her own paint­ing. The performative turn in the humanities provides a compelling framework for understanding her artistic stance. It draws attention to the agency of the artist – her capacity to actively reshape reality. Both transformation and the presence of an active (performative) subject – not a passive observer, but an initiator and creator acting in collaboration with others – are regarded as positive values from this perspective. Léger’s distinctive versatility is evident in her works published in “L’Art Contemporain – Sztuka Współczesna” over the course of just two years. During this time, the artist moved freely between constructivist and surrealist ten­dencies, both of which coexisted within the pages of the magazine, which was often described as eclectic.

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