Mieczysław Szczuka

Mieczysław Szczuka (October 19, 1898 – August 13, 1927) was a Polish avant-garde artist and mountaineer.

Mieczysław Szczuka
Self-portrait (1920)
BornOctober 19, 1898
Warsaw, Kingdom of Poland
DiedAugust 13, 1927
Tatra Mountains, Poland
NationalityPolish
Amnesty for political prisoners
Poster by Mieczysław Szczuka (1926)

Szczuka was born in Warsaw, Kingdom of Poland, Russian Empire (now Poland) and studied painting in 1915-1918 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, with Professor Miłosz Kotarbiński. After graduation, he worked as painter and graphic artist. His main work was as a book illustrator and a theatre set designer. He also produced photomontages and abstract art films. Szczuka participated in several international exhibitions such as the "First exhibition of modern art" in Bucharest. A promoter of utilitarianism in Poland, Szczuka joined the group of avantgarde artists "Blok".

Diagnosed with tuberculosis, in 1923 Mieczysław Szczuka moved to the mountain resort of Zakopane at the foot of Tatras. He started mountaineering and in 1923-1927 repeated some most difficult climbs of the time and established own new routes.

He died in an accident while climbing the south face of Zamarła Turnia in the Tatra Mountains with a novice climber.

References
  • Kossowska, Irena. Sylwetki sztuka. Mieczysław Szczuka Instytut Sztuki Polskiej Akademii Nauk, July 2002. (in Polish) (Retrieved 13 April 2010)
  • Internet version of Wielka Encyklopedia Tatrzanska, entry "Szczuka Mieczysław" (as a mountaineer) (in Polish) (after Zofia i Witold H. Paryscy, Wielka Encyklopedia Tatrzańska) (Retrieved 13 April 2010)
  • Zofia Radwańska-Paryska, Witold Henryk Paryski – Wielka Encyklopedia Tatrzańska Wydawnictwo Górskie, 1995, reprint edition 2004, ISBN 83-7104-009-1
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