Jerzy Sosnkowski

Jerzy Sosnkowski
Picture of Jerzy Sosnkowski in the 1930s
Picture of Jerzy Sosnkowski in the 1930s
Born(1894-10-23)23 October 1894
Warszawa, Russian Partition  Russian Empire
Died10 December 1954(1954-12-10) (aged 60)
Merlo district, Buenos Aires,  Argentina
NationalityPolish
Occupation(s)Modernist architect and designer
SpouseZofia Janicka
ChildrenWacław
Parent(s)Zofia née Drabińska and Józef Bogdan Sosnkowski
AwardsCross of Independence

Jerzy Sosnkowski (1894-1954) was a Polish modernist architect, interior designer and writer.

Biography

Youth

Jerzy was born on 23 October 1894 in Warsaw[1] from Zofia née Drabińska (1858–1938) and Józef Bogdan Sosnkowski (1832–1896), a wealthy nobleman and owner of several villages.[2] Gentry traditions and Polish patriotism were deeply honored in the family. Jerzy had 3 sisters and 2 brothers, in addition to 5 other siblings from his father's first marriage.[3]

He attended the gymnasium on Złota Street in Warsaw. He then went to the private Polish Artur Jeżewski's School of Commerce (Szkoła Handlowa A. Jeżewskiego), where he passed his matura in June 1913.[3] With his diploma, he left for Lviv to study architecture at the Polytechnic School which his brother Kazimierz was already attending.[4]

There, he was a member of the local Riflemen's Association (Związek Strzelecki).[2]

First World War and military service

On 2 October 1914, he enlisted as a corporal in the 1st Uhlan Regiment. He took part in the operations of the Austrian army on the Russian front in the Lublin region and in Volhynia. In November 1915, he was temporarily released due to serious illness: he stayed in Sandomierz on the estate of his sister Wanda Chołocińska.[4]

In March 1916 he transferred to Warsaw, in order to resume his studies at the Faculty of Architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology (Wydział Architektury Politechniki Warszawskiej), under the supervision of architect Czesław Przybylski. In September 1918, he passed the semi-graduate exam.[5]

After Poland regained independence, Sosnkowski joined the 2nd Rokitnian Chevau-léger regiment as a volunteer, taking part in the winter campaign on the Volhynian front. From June to September 1919, he took a course at the Officer Cadet School in Warsaw and was accordingly promoted to second lieutenant; he was sent posted to the Staff of the Ministry of Military Affairs. He eventually ended his military service in September 1921.[3]

Sosnkowski was rewarded the Cross of Independence on 12 May 1931, for "work in the effort to regain Independence".[6]

In 1934, as an ancient mobilized officer, he was listed in the records of the 3rd Recruitment District Command of Warsaw, a military body responsible in particular for the administration of reserves. As such, Sosnkowski was assigned to the Reserve Officers' District Nr I, with the rank of Lieutenant, intended to be called back in wartime.[7]

Advertising leaflet of the company "DECOR", 1921
Sosnkowski smoking (facing the camera) at the Artistic and technical committee of the Maritime and River League, 1930

Art studies and works

In 1917, Jerzy Sosnkowski co-submitted several stamps designs, in the framework of the competition for the Postal Marks of the Kingdom of Poland.[8]

Around 1921, together with Franciszek Biske (1895–1938), also a student of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology, he founded the company "DECOR", which performed all types of works within the scope of applied artistic graphics and interior decoration.[9] From 1923 to 1931, he was an artistic inspector of the City Council in Warsaw.[10]

In Warsaw, Jerzy Sosnkowski was actively involved in many artistic fields, staying several months for a course at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. At the time, he had been already identified by Józef Gawlikowski, a Warsaw Publishing House editor, as (...) "a successful architect, a theatre painter and interior decorator, an illustrator and a draftsman, appreciated in England."[9]

He graduated on 31 June 1929, obtaining a diploma from the Department of Monumental Design, under the supervision of Czesław Przybylski.[11] Right after (1930), he designed together with Juliusz Żórawski his first project, the Atlantic movie theater in the Polish capital.[11]

In 1927, he was part of the management team dealing with competitions organized at the Warsaw International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art (Międzynarodowa Wystawa Sztuki Kinematograficznej, Warszawa).[12]

He became also a member of the Association of Polish Architects.[10] Thanks to his brother's connections, Jerzy received military commissions from the Military Quartering Fund (Fundusz Kwaterunku Wojskowego, FKW) which resulted in the construction of several military residential houses, according to his designs (1929-1937).[9] He created as well designs for furniture.[11]

Together with Czesław Piaskowski, a Polish set designer and decorator, he created the scenography for the movie Rycerze mroku (Knights of Darkness), directed by Bruno Bredschneider and Stefan Szwarc in 1932.[13] In this period, he also designed theatre sets (operettas)[1] and interiors. Namely, the interior of the Żywiec restaurant[14] in Warsaw was distinctive with its streamlined shapes, used in both architectural elements and furniture.[1]

Thanks to his knowledge of foreign languages (French, German, Russian) and his artistic capabilities, Sonskowski travelled at length and published a number of articles in Tygodnik Illustrowany, often with his own illustrations: Lviv (1922), Borysław oil basin (1925), Lublin (1927), Hutsulshchyna (1928), French riviera (1925), Czechoslovakia (1925), Denmark (1926), Amsterdam (1928), Venice (1932).[15]

Second world war and post war years

Cover of the book "Mieszkanie przy ul. Wielkiej"

Jerzy Sosnkowski survived the war in occupied Warsaw. His activity during the conflict was very low: the only known works are illustrations for Józef Krysiński's thriller Mieszkanie przy ul. Wielka, published in Warsaw in 1941. He was arrested by the Gestapo on charges of commanding a combat action in Radom and then released in 1944.[9] In spring, the same year, his wife left to Lisbon.[3]

Released in October from a Kraków prison, he fled the advancing Red Army towards Germany in early 1945. He was arrested in Nuremberg by the 3rd American Army, identified and evacuated by plane on 27 May to Paris. Living in camps between France and England, Jerzy decided in the middle of 1947 to emigrate to Argentina, where he arrived on 20 July 1947, in Campaña, near Buenos Aires. In parallel, his brother Kazimierz had left Poland for Canada.

During his stay in exile, he first participated in Polish community life before stepping out of it. Sosnkowski lived in an unfinished house in the district of Aguila Blanca in Merlo near the capital city, financially supported by friendly neighbors. During this period, he intensively created lead drawings and watercolours on architectural themes from cities of pre-war Poland. These works are now exhibited at the Polish Library in Buenos Aires.

He died in the district of Merlo[3] on 10 December 1954.[16]

His achievements, architectural, design and artistic projects were presented in a multimedia exhibition organized in the Dom Polski-Casa Polaca (Polish house), in Buenos Aires in October 2023.[16]

Publications

Cover of "Wnetrze" magazine Nr1 1931

In 1931, he co-founded the magazine Wnętrze (Interior)[11] and led it as the editor-in-chief till 1934. The aim of the publication was to promote modern, avant-garde forms, as well as to promote the best architects and designers, and to advertise professional construction companies and various manufacturers related to this field.[17] Some of his articles on architecture[18] and urban space[19] appeared in the daily Kurier Warszawski. Wnętrze last issue was published in 1936.

Sosnkowski created illustrations, cartoons and articles (more than 180)[3] for the Tygodnik Illustrowany and for Naokoło Świata, a series of travel literature published by the State Publishing House "Iskra".[11]

In addition, he gave serial story lectures broadcast on the radio, such as Urządzanie wnętrz mieszkaniowych (Home interior design) in 1927[20] or Uroda miast portowych (The beauty of port cities) in 1929.[21]

Sosnkowski also wrote novels, short stories or illustrated[22] other authors books. This activity mainly happened before his architectural graduation (1929).

In his books, Jerzy tackled fantasy themes, writing about still undiscovered territories, or in the case of a series of short stories Żywe powietrze, about monsters, threats from space beings in space and creatures resembling characters from H.P. Lovecraft novels.[23] In addition, his works ridiculed satirically Janusz Meissner's style.[23]

Works and projects

Buildings

"Żywiec" restaurant, interior, 1933
  • Casino cinema-theatre, co-designer, at 50 Nowy Świat street, Warsaw (1926).[4]
  • Officers' House at today's 8 Zegrzyńska street in Legionowo (1929).[10]
  • Officers' House in Stanisławów[disambiguation needed] (1929).
  • Atlantic movie theater in Warsaw, co-designed with Juliusz Żórawski (1930). It was the first modern sound cinema in Poland.[17]
  • Żywiec restaurant, Warsaw (1932).
  • Non-Commissioned Officers' House in the Rembertów district of Warsaw (1934).
  • Non-Commissioned Officers' House at 10a Dymińskiego street, Żoliborz district, Warsaw (1935).[10]
  • Officers' Houses and commander's house in Góra Kalwaria (c. 1937)
"Mary mill" store, interior, 1933

Scenography

Interior designs

  • Design of Ferdinand Foch's marshal's baton, when the latter received the title of Marshal of Poland (1923).[9]
  • Żywiec restaurant at 36 Jerozolimskie avenue, Warsaw (1932) - non existent.
  • Interior design for the MARY MILL store at 104 Marszałkowska street, Warsaw (1933) - non existent.
  • Furniture for the Polish high Military Academy (1933).

Books

  • Czerwone wyłogi: szkice i obrazki (Red Lapels: Sketches and Pictures) (1917), a collection of short stories from his battle experiences during WWI.
  • Jednodniówka akademicka (One-day academic) (1918).
  • Dom filozofów (Philosophers' house) - short stories (1923).[24]
  • Auto, ty i ja (The car, you and me) - short stories (1925).
  • Bosman Finta (Boatswain Finta), dedicated to his brother Kazimierz[25] - short stories (1926).
  • Żywe powietrze (Living air) - novel (1926).
  • Radjomiłość (Radio love) - novel (1927).
  • Żywy sen (Living dream), Latający dywan (Flying Carpet), Na ognistym wozie (On a fiery cart), W kuchni wieloryba (In the Whale's Kitchen), Białe Orlę (White eagle) and Krew ziemi (The blood of the earth) (1928), didactic patriotic readings included in an anthology for school youth, commissioned by the Książnica-Atlas publishing house.[26]

Personal life

  • The couple had a son, Wacław.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jerzy Sosnkowski.

References

  1. ^ a b c Kozina, Irma (2015). Polski Design [Polish Design] (in Polish). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo SBM. pp. 68–69. ISBN 9788378458968.
  2. ^ a b Łoza, Stanisław (1939). Czy wiesz kto to jest? Uzupełnienia i sprostowania [Do you know who this is? Additions and corrections] (in Polish). Warszawa: Drukarnia Wydawnicza Warszawa. p. 287. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Błaszczyk, Dariusz (2023). Sosnkowski Jerzy. Słownik artystów polskich i obcych w Polsce działających (zmarłych przed 1966 r.). Malarze, rzeźbiarze, graficy. Tom XI [Sosnkowski Jerzy. Dictionary of Polish and foreign artists active in Poland (deceased before 1966). Painters, sculptors, graphic artists. Volume XI] (in Polish). Warszawa: Instytut Sztuki PAN. pp. 494–501. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Błaszczyk, Dariusz (2023). Brat generała. Jerzy Sosnkowski (1893–1954) [The general's brother. Jerzy Sosnkowski (1893–1954)] (in Polish). Warszawa: Fundacja Centrum Architektury. ISBN 978-83-969081-3-1.
  5. ^ "KRĄG-JERZY SOSNKOWSKI" [CIRCLE-JERZY SOSNKOWSKI]. facebook.com (in Polish). Warsaw: Meta. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  6. ^ Zarządzenie o nadaniu Krzyża Niepodległości z mieczami, Krzyża Niepodległości oraz Medalu Niepodległości [Order on awarding the Cross of Independence with Swords, the Cross of Independence and the Medal of Independence.] (in Polish). Warszawa: Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych. 1931. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  7. ^ Rocznik Oficerski Rezerw [Reserve Officers' Yearbook] (in Polish). Warszawa: Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych. 1934. p. 270. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  8. ^ Katalog prac konkursowych na marki pocztowe Królestwa Polskiego [Catalog of competition entries for postmarks of the Kingdom of Poland] (in Polish). Warszawa: Warszawskie Towarzystwo Artystyczne. 2 June 1927. pp. 10, 19. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e STUDIA DO DZIEJÓW ARCHITEKTURY I URBANISTYKI W POLSCE, TOM TRZECI. ZBIORY NAUKOWE ZAKŁADU ARCHITEKTURY POLSKIEJ WYDZIAŁU ARCHITEKTURY POLITECHNIKI WARSZAWSKIEJ Z PERSPEKTYWY 100 LAT [STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING IN POLAND, VOLUME THREE. SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POLISH ARCHITECTURE, FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, WARSAW UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF 100 YEARS.] (in Polish). Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Warszawskiej. 2020. pp. 187–188. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "arch. Jerzy Sosnkowski" [Architect Jerzy Sosnkowski]. archimemory.pl (in Polish). Warsaw: Marek Perepeczo. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e Błaszczyk, Dariusz (2010). Juliusz Żórawski – przerwane dzieło modernizmu [Juliusz Żórawski, the interrupted work of modernism] (in Polish). Warszawa: Salix Alba. p. 64. ISBN 978-83-930937-0-0.
  12. ^ ABC: pismo codzienne informuje wszystkich o wszystkim R.2, nr 32 [ABC: a daily magazine about everyone Vol. 2, No. 32] (in Polish). Warszawa: Mazowiecka Spółka Wydawnicza. 2 June 1927. p. 5. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  13. ^ "RYCERZE MROKU" [Knights of Darkness]. filmpolski.pl (in Polish). Łódż: Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Filmowa, Telewizyjna i Teatralna im. Leona Schillera w Łodzi. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Restauracja Żywiec, 1932" [Żywiec restaurant, 1932]. amused.github.io (in Polish). Warszawa: Nowe Ateny. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  15. ^ Sosnkowski, Jerzy (1932). Tygodnik Illustrowany [Tygodnik Illustrowany] (in Polish). Warszawa: Gebethner i Wolff. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Gwiazda międzywojennej Polski w Buenos Aires" [A star of interwar Poland in Buenos Aires]. gov.pl (in Polish). Warszawa: Rzeczpospolita Polska. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Wnetrze, czasopismo z lat 300 xx w. Poswiecone nowoczesnym meblom i projektowaniu wnetrz" [Interior, a magazine from the 1930s dedicated to modern furniture and interior design]. internityhome.pl (in Polish). Warszawa: Internity Home. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  18. ^ Sosnkowski, Jerzy (14 May 1930). Bez pozwolenia. Kurjer Warszawski R.110, nr 130 [Without permission. Warsaw Courier R.110, nr 130] (in Polish). Warszawa: Feliks Mrozowski i Konrad Olchowicz. p. 8. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  19. ^ Sosnkowski, Jerzy (7 February 1937). Ni to, no owo. Kurjer Warszawski R.117, nr 38 [Neither this nor that. Warsaw Courier R.117, nr 38] (in Polish). Warszawa: Feliks Mrozowski i Konrad Olchowicz. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  20. ^ Urządzanie wnętrz mieszkaniowych. Robotnik : organ Polskiej Partyi Socyalistycznej R.33, nr 66 [Interior design of residential buildings. Robotnik: organ of the Polish Socialist Party R.33, nr 66] (in Polish). Warszawa: Rada Naczelna PPS. 8 March 1927. p. 5. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  21. ^ Uroda miast portowych. Kurjer Warszawski R.109, nr 328 [The beauty of port cities. Warsaw Courier R.109, nr 328] (in Polish). Warszawa: Feliks Mrozowski i Konrad Olchowicz. 8 March 1927. p. 8. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  22. ^ Krysiński, Józef (1941). Mieszkanie przy ul. Wielkiej [Apartment at Wielka Street] (in Polish). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Polskie. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  23. ^ a b Nevins, Jess (2020). Horror Fiction in the 20th Century: Exploring Literature's Most Chilling Genre. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. pp. 73–74. ISBN 9781440862069.
  24. ^ Grudnik, Krzysztof (2024). "Jerzy Sosnkowski "Dom filozofów"" [Jerzy Sosnkowski "Philosophers' house"]. wydawnictwoix.pl (in Polish). Kraków: Wydawnictwo IX. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  25. ^ "[POLSKIE NIESAMOWITOŚCI #1] Jerzy Sosnkowski - Bosman Finta" [[POLISH INCREDIBILITIES #1] Jerzy Sosnkowski - Bosman Finta]. milczenieliter.pl (in Polish). Warszawa: Milczenie liter. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  26. ^ Budrewicz, Zofia (2003). Czytanka literacka w gimnazjum międzywojennym: Geneza, struktura, funkcje [Literary reading in the interwar middle school: Genesis, structure, functions] (in Polish). Kraków: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii Pedagogicznej. pp. 90, 92. ISBN 83-7271-198-4.
  27. ^ Mila, Leszek (2 May 2022). "Jerzy Sosnkowski". geni.com. geni. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  28. ^ Łabuz, Mateusz (2024). "Kazimierz Sosnkowski" [Kazimierz Sosnkowski]. warhist.pl (in Polish). Warsaw: II WOJNA ŚWIATOWA. Retrieved 19 January 2025.

Bibliography