The Public Vocational School No. 10 in Łódź (also known as the School of Graphic Arts and Design) was intended for young pressmen and wall painters. From 1931, it was headed by Władysław Strzemiński. Under his supervision, the school became a place for comprehensive education in new typography, not only for students but also for professional artists. The curriculum was spread over three years, constantly refined by Strzemiński, and it incorporated the theoretical principles of modern printing. Each year, students were divided into two groups: graphic design, artistic and decorative design.
At the end of 1935, Samuel Szczekacz, together with Pinkus Szwarc (Pinchas Shaar, 1923-1983), Julian Lewin (1917-1942) and Judah (Yehuda) Tarmu (1919-2000), began to study in private evening courses at the School, with Strzemiński and Stefan Wegner. The young students learnt to paint, became familiar with graphic techniques, sculpture, photomontage, graphic design and typography.
"[...] He chose us (Pinkus Szwarc and Julian Lewin) as students of Władysław Strzemiński, and Strzemiński was, after all, a friend of Broderson's. They were both fanatical believers in the avant-garde in art. Tha is why they believed in the young. [...] There were three of us, friends from one scout troop: me, Samuel [Szmul] Szczekacz (it's such a Polish surname that he changed it to Zur in Israel) and Julek Lewin, who died in the Warsaw Ghetto. There was also Juda [Yehuda] Tarmu with us, but he quickly dropped out. That's how there were three of us left. Three young artists, because we all painted. Unfortunately, the only painting school in Łódź belonged to Wacław Dobrowolski. Dobrowolski was a rabid anti-Semite. He hated Jews and hated Strzemiński, because for him it was competition. [...] Strzemiński, who was awarded the Łódź Prize in 1932, got a lot of publicity at the time [...]. The three of us decided to approach Strzemiński. Broderson helped us..." (A. Kuligowska-Korzeniowska, "I was saved by painting...". A conversation with Pinkus Szwarc, [in:] "Jewish Theatre in Poland. Materials of an international academic conference", ed. A. Kulikowska-Korzeniewska, M. Leyko, Łódź 1998, pp. 128-130). |
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