Koło Artystyczno-Literackie w Krakowie (1881 – 1907)
The Cracow Society of Art and Literature

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the history of an estimable organization of writers and artists from Cracow. The Society of Art and Literature was brought into existence through the initiative of Juliusz Kossak, an outstanding painter, who in 1869 came to Cracow with his family. Here, among the Cracovian writers, he found a reliable collaborator, Michał Bałucki. The two of them directed the Society since its beginnings in 1881 (Kossak as President and Bałucki as Vice-President). Kossak directed the Society until his death in 1897; after that, Bałucki took over and remained President until his death in 1901. He was succeeded by Julian Fałat, followed by Marian Zdziechowski, August Sokołowski and Kazimierz Morawski. The Society had its premises in the Main Market Square, where most of its events, like readings and presentations, anniversary celebrations and social receptions, took place. Members of the Society received there eminent guests from both Poland (e.g. Helena Modrzejewska, Henryk Siemiradzki) and abroad (e.g. Marie Pospíšilová, an excellent actress from Prague). In 1883 the Society of Art and Literature organized the First Convention of Polish Artists and Writers. In 1891, together with numerous other Polish artists, writers and intellectuals, members of the Society went to Prague for the National Exhibition. The group played an important role in Cracow and Galicia, although it did not mark out new trends in art or literature; this was done by other Cracovian societies functioning at the turn of the 20th century.

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