”Red Marianne.” On Polish-French connections in “Odrodzenie” magazine (1945–1950) Cover Image

„Czerwona Marianna”, O polsko-francuskich związkach literackich na łamach „Odrodzenia” (1945–1950)
”Red Marianne.” On Polish-French connections in “Odrodzenie” magazine (1945–1950)

Author(s): Grzegorz Bąbiak
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature
Published by: Łódzkie Towarzystwo Naukowe
Keywords: Polish culture after 1945; Karol Kuryluk; Jerzy Borejsza; French literature in the polish cultural magazines

Summary/Abstract: The article comprehensively presents French art and literature in a socio-cultural weekly magazine that was published between 1944 and 1950, and that was considered to be one of the most prominent magazines in post-war Poland. Its widespread reach and open attitude towards culture that was reflected in “Odrodzenie” (contrary to Marxist approach represented in “Kuźnica”) influenced opinion-forming processes greatly and also shaped new literary canon. It was edited by Karol Kuryluk followed by Jerzy Borejsza — both editors had been genuinely involved in French culture since youth, hence the presence of writers and artists from that circle was explicit. Considering the amount of texts, “Odrodzenie” consisted mostly of Russian literature and also of French literature, that, having more artistic value, was ahead of English and Italian writings. Those proportions were also influenced by Aragon, Picasso and Eluard who were leftist and who were close friends with Kuryluk and Borejsza. Those connections were natural for both editors and they confirmed particular place that Poland took on the verge of Western and Eastern cultures. The transition that started to happen around 1948 and the processes that inhibited artistic freedom lead to a shift in the attitude towards Western culture which also included French culture. The beginning of Social Realism terminated artistic freedom and ended the publishing of “Odrodzenie” that was then perceived as too liberal. The magazine had printed classic writings by authors such as Diderot, Hugo, then-forgotten symbolists such as Verlaine, Rimbaud, and also by current writers that were gradually recognized in Polish culture.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 70
  • Page Range: 9-29
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish