Ludwik Gronowski’s photographs - perfectly observed and taken - create almost a fairytale like atmosphere of the pre-war times. They present, among others the fragments of the landscapes in different seasons and the people who are their part. I was particularly fascinated by the portraits of females taken in the Hollywood style of the 30s. To execute them, one had to be not only capable of taking photographs in the natural light but also a master in using studio lamps. Ludwik Gronowski’s photographs should intrique both amateurs and the professional photographers like me. One can learn a lot from them. Ryszard Horowitz
Ludwik Gronowski was born in 1904 in Warsaw. Since September 1930, he was employed as a teacher of aslgebra and mathematics in the Krzemieniec Educational Institute. Soon he became one of the most active participant of the artistic and sport events that took place in that city during the decade before War World II.
The experimental system of Krzemieniec Educational Institute’s education based on individual course of work was supplemented by additional work in numerous groups of interests. One of the most outstanding parts of the complex was the Photographic Studio, organised by a teacher of drawing and excellent photographer Stanisław Sheybal. The activities of the Studio and the achievements of its alumni evoked lively interest of inhabitants and also tourists viviting the city. Therefore, the works created in the Studio were sold and the seminars and exhibitions were organised. And finally, in 1929, the Krzemieniec Educational Institute became a host of the I National Exhibition of Artistic Photography that – as Stanisław Sheybal recalled – initiated the development of the photographic movement in the Krzemieniec community.
A year after, the fans of photography gathered around the Photographic Society established by Sheybal. One of its the creators and the most talented participant was Ludwik Gronowski. The first individual exhibition of his works was organised in Krzemieniec in 1933. Later, the photographs made by Gronowski were presented on many exhibitions in Poland (e.g. in Warsaw, Cracow and Lviv) and abroad (e.g. Milan, London, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Chicaco, New York and Japan).
Winter in the Volhynia
The Krzemieniec alley
Amonf the earliest works, there are landscape photographs and the photographs depicting fragments of the city building complexes. The creator was obviously fascinated with the variety of light effects in nature. Gronowski was taking the pictures at twilight or during the morning mists, when there was „gloomy weather”, in the full summer sun and in the autumn haze, as well as in winter. A part of the collection consists of the photographs of the genre nature which show the people in various situations. We observe them during the simple activities, wandering the streets or resting with their families.
Boot
Bridge
The most important part of his work was portrait, mostly taken in the studio. Portrait was practised by Gronowski very skilfully. Ease with which he operated the artificial light, the ability to pose a model, capability of drawing out his personality was amazing. The perfect author’s eye we can see also in a series of self-portraits, where he conducted some formal experiments and unusual expression.
The favorite photography techniques were bromine, chrome and bichromate techniques.
The Joy of Life
Ludwik Gronowski lived in Krzemieniec under the Soviet and German occupations. In 1941, he had to leave the town and he was hiding in the region of Kielce, where he participated in the underground struggle against the enemy. Seriously ill, he died in 1945 in the age of 41.
The photographic output of Gronowski was preserved only in part. A few dozen photographs survived and they are now not only the testimony of unusual passion and amazing talent of its author, but also an unique fragment of the achievements of the respected artistic community in Krzemieniec. The part of the Gronowski’s artistic output preserved in the family collection and presented now in the Museum of Architecture in Wroclaw, is special for its extraordinary diversity both topical and technical.
The exhibition is accompanied by a polish-english catalogue, containing the ectypes of all saved photographs by Ludwik Gronowski.