Zachęta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zachęta Art Gallery

Zachęta (lit. Encouragement, short for Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych, Society for Encouragement of Fine Arts) is one of the most notable art galleries in Warsaw. Currently state-owned and named Zachęta National Gallery of Art, it was named after the Society founded in 1860, disbanded in 1940 and re-established in 1990.

The Society was started by some of the most notable Polish artists and art dealers, among them Wojciech Gerson, Alfred Schouppé and Marcin Olszyński. In 1900 the society moved to a new location, a large building next to the Saxon Garden, designed by Stefan Szyller. The aims of Zachęta were to promote art for the benefit of both artists and the Polish society. Since 1904 there are yearly Salons held there. The Society also founded scholarships and offered other aid to young artists, both members and candidates.

On December 16th, 1922 Gabriel Narutowicz, the first president of Poland was assassinated in Zachęta. He was shot by Eligiusz Niewiadomski, a Polish painter, after five days of incumbency.

Initially following new trends in European art, after Poland regained her independence in 1918 the Zachęta gradually became more conservative. Following the Invasion of Poland (1939), exhibitions were suspended and in 1940 the institution was closed down by the German authorities, while a large part of the works of art was confiscated and sent to Germany. Following the World War II the building was rebuilt and continued to house the gallery, while the society was not re-established until 1990.