Objects

This ordinary notebook was probably bought before Marek Szwarc went to the hospital. On the cover, there are addresses and telephone numbers of his wife (Boulevard Arago 73) and a doctor, Alexander Schwartz (the artist's nephew); later Gina Szwarc added: "Derniers dessins de Marek à l`hôpital / Decembre 58" [Marek's last drawings in the hospital, December 58].

In the middle, on individual cards, we find 6 drawings made with a blue pen: the artist's self-portrait, portraits of other patients, scenes from the hospital day and the poignant request of the weakening artist, written in French: "Demandez pardon à mes amis et dis eux de ne pas encore venir me voir car cela me fatigue" [Apologize to my friends, but let them not come because it tires me]. Renata Piątkowska