DOI Artikel:
Nowak, Janusz: Kraków w spotkaniu z Japonią i jej kultura̜ na przełomie XIX i XX wieku: Udział prasy w recepcji sztuki i kultury japońskiej
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26693#0154
Kraków meets Japan and its culture at the tum ofthe 19th and 20th centuries. Summary 153
Kraków meets Japan and its culture at the tum
of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The role of the press in the reception of Japanese art
Summary
This article discusses the role of the press and its influence on the reception of Japan and
its art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Kraków, and draws attention to the fact
that Polish society, especially in Galicia and Kraków (but also in the other partition sec-
tors) had access to information about Europę and the world beyond what was commonly
brought to them in the papers of the time. Credit for discovering Japanese art and cultu-
re is doubtless due to journalists publishing in Kraków and Galicia, who passed on that
knowledge in ąuotes from dispatches from Western Europę but also in their own artic-
les and columns. In Krakows press Japan was presented to Poles at the turn of the 19th
and 20th centuries as a friendly and open-minded but far-away country with rich culture
and art that were deeply rooted in its tradition. The rangę of Japanese issues discussed by
the press, whether periodical or daily, was remarkable, regardless of their editors outlook.
That wide spectre covered current political developments; history of Japan; political and
administrative reforms, including the opening of the country to the rest of the world after
1868; education and schooling; freedom of speech; religion; as well as art and culture. In
keeping with Feliks Jasieński s views, the papers argued that getting to know Japan and its
culture may help guide a Pole to Polish artists, and - through them - help him find his
way to native art. They also pointed out that political awareness may stimulate an urge and
desire to study the art and culture of ones own country. No unfavourable notę or opinion
about Japan and its culture can be found in the press of the time. The reader could feel that
local papers were very fond of that country, taking a pro-Japanese stance for fairly obvio-
us, patriotic and anti-Russian, reasons, and, being Polish himself, he could fully share that
approach. The political context played a vital part in the perception of Japan and its art,
which was very appreciative in Kraków, but dismissive in Warsaw. The picture of Japan in
the press published in Warsaw, a city that lied within the borders of the Russian empire,
was nothing like that presented by journalists in Kraków and Galicia, which were part of
Austria-Hungary, the difference having been driven by dissimilar local political scenes
and systems of alliances. Interest in Japan and Japanese art in Kraków, Warsaw or Lviv
was indisputably triggered by Feliks Jasieński and his Japanese exhibitions. Jasieński could
feel support from the local press in the Austrian sector, a proof of which were expressions
of gratitude he received in response to the criticism and disapproval by Warsaw journa-
lists and society. Freąuent visitors to exhibitions at the Salon of the Society of Fine Arts’
Friends, Krakow-based journalists were conversant with works by contemporary Polish
artists and could easily see to what extent Japanese art exerted its impact on their style,
whether they lived in Poland or stayed in Paris.
Kraków meets Japan and its culture at the tum
of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The role of the press in the reception of Japanese art
Summary
This article discusses the role of the press and its influence on the reception of Japan and
its art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Kraków, and draws attention to the fact
that Polish society, especially in Galicia and Kraków (but also in the other partition sec-
tors) had access to information about Europę and the world beyond what was commonly
brought to them in the papers of the time. Credit for discovering Japanese art and cultu-
re is doubtless due to journalists publishing in Kraków and Galicia, who passed on that
knowledge in ąuotes from dispatches from Western Europę but also in their own artic-
les and columns. In Krakows press Japan was presented to Poles at the turn of the 19th
and 20th centuries as a friendly and open-minded but far-away country with rich culture
and art that were deeply rooted in its tradition. The rangę of Japanese issues discussed by
the press, whether periodical or daily, was remarkable, regardless of their editors outlook.
That wide spectre covered current political developments; history of Japan; political and
administrative reforms, including the opening of the country to the rest of the world after
1868; education and schooling; freedom of speech; religion; as well as art and culture. In
keeping with Feliks Jasieński s views, the papers argued that getting to know Japan and its
culture may help guide a Pole to Polish artists, and - through them - help him find his
way to native art. They also pointed out that political awareness may stimulate an urge and
desire to study the art and culture of ones own country. No unfavourable notę or opinion
about Japan and its culture can be found in the press of the time. The reader could feel that
local papers were very fond of that country, taking a pro-Japanese stance for fairly obvio-
us, patriotic and anti-Russian, reasons, and, being Polish himself, he could fully share that
approach. The political context played a vital part in the perception of Japan and its art,
which was very appreciative in Kraków, but dismissive in Warsaw. The picture of Japan in
the press published in Warsaw, a city that lied within the borders of the Russian empire,
was nothing like that presented by journalists in Kraków and Galicia, which were part of
Austria-Hungary, the difference having been driven by dissimilar local political scenes
and systems of alliances. Interest in Japan and Japanese art in Kraków, Warsaw or Lviv
was indisputably triggered by Feliks Jasieński and his Japanese exhibitions. Jasieński could
feel support from the local press in the Austrian sector, a proof of which were expressions
of gratitude he received in response to the criticism and disapproval by Warsaw journa-
lists and society. Freąuent visitors to exhibitions at the Salon of the Society of Fine Arts’
Friends, Krakow-based journalists were conversant with works by contemporary Polish
artists and could easily see to what extent Japanese art exerted its impact on their style,
whether they lived in Poland or stayed in Paris.