Objects

With the simplified, geometrised form of this group scene, the artist declared his accession to the emerging Formism, thus abandoning the canon closer to Young Poland, present particularly strongly in many lithographic portraits. | The modernity of the lithograph entitled "On the Way to the Trench" is based – paradoxically – on a well-known formula of ancient and medieval art: isokephaly. The mattresses on the soldiers' heads are almost at the same level, as are the sheaves of hay carried by some of the marchers. Isokephaly emphasises the horizontal orientation of the composition. The artist also used this new-old formula several times in other, non-legion works. | The German caption is a quotation from one of Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski's works, possibly from some legionary or other song – associating the familiar smell of straw (carried on the lithograph by soldiers) with regaining the Homeland. | The artist dedicated the lithograph to an unknown regent (notary) Złoszewski. | AT