Mieczysław Wejman (1912–1997), Pingpong VIII, 1986

Etching. Dimensions: 20.5 x 12.5 cm, 31 x 24 cm (sheet)
Hand-signed in pencil: lower left: “Pingpong VIII,” lower right: Mieczysław Wejman 1986

Mieczysław Wejman (1912–1997)—Polish graphic artist and painter. Professor, rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, co-founder of the International Graphic Arts Triennial (then known as the Biennale). Mieczysław Wejman studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (until 1937), then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (1937–1939; graduated in 1946). He worked as a professor at the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Kraków (from 1946; director 1948–1949; rector 1949–1950). He then served as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (1951–1972). He served twice as rector of the academy (1952–1954 and 1967–1972). He headed the Department of Artistic Printmaking (1956–1982) and also served as dean of the Faculty of Printmaking (1964–1967). He is considered the founder of the metaphorical printmaking movement, which distinguishes the “Krakow School of Printmaking.” He retired in 1982. From 1947 to 1960, he was a member of the “9 Printmakers” group. He served as chairman of the Executive Board of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers (ZPAP) (1959–1962) and as chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Print Biennial in Kraków (1966–1971). Known primarily as a printmaker, he also worked as a painter. In his early period, he created woodcuts (the “Moon” series, 1946–1948); later, he worked mainly with metal-based techniques. The most important series in his oeuvre, “The Cyclist” (1964–1970), earned him first prize at the First International Biennial of Graphic Arts in Kraków and the First-Class State Award in 1966. He won many other awards, including first prize in the national Olympic competition, Warsaw 1956, first prizes at the National Exhibitions of Artistic Printmaking and Drawing in Warsaw in 1956 and 1959, and second prize at the Second International Biennial “Sport in Art” in Madrid in 1969. In the later period of his career, he created the extensive painting series “Monument” (1975–1977) and also painted still lifes in pastel (1984). Mieczysław Wejman’s students include, among others, Jacek Gaj, Tadeusz Jackowski, Marta Kremer, Janusz Karwacki, Włodzimierz Kotkowski, Andrzej Pietsch, Zbigniew Rabsztyn, Anna Sobol-Wejman, Jacek Sroka, and Stanisław Wejman. Described by some of his students as one of the “last god-like professors” of the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1969, he was a member of the Ministry of Culture and Art’s Awards Committee. From 1986 to 1989, he was a member of the National Grunwald Committee.