Polish artists living in Munich known also as the “Munich Artists” – in the face of tradition and cultural phenomena of the 19th and 20th century. Some remarks and reflections

The aim of this article is to present the existence and great significance of some of the most prominent Polish artists studying at the Munich Academy of Arts, in private art schools in Munich, and in the Munich Art Society between 1828 and the beginning of World War I in 1914. Most notable among these “Munich Artists” were: Józef Brandt (1841–1915), Alfred WieruszKowalski (1849–1915), Adam Chmielowski (1845–1916), Józef Chełmoński (1849–1914), Aleksander Gierymski (1850–1901), Jacek Malczewski (1854–1929) and Olga Boznańska (1865–1940). Starting from the 1870^s onwards they were undoubtedly the largest national group amongst foreign artists living in Munich – to such an extent that art critics often described them simply as the “Polish Colony” in Munich. Practically all of them remained conscious of their Polish nationality and continued to have close links with their mother country of Poland. Some of these artists decided to stay for the rest of their lives in Germany and during their lifetime they became highly respected members of the Munich School of Art. If we take under consideration all of the Polish artists who worked and lived in Munich during this time we can say that approximately 120 Polish painters were involved in various Munich art circles. Their joint creative output is truly astounding, diverse and multi-layered and for some unknown reason still waiting for a comprehensive monographic synthesis.