Page 27 - Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana w Łodzi. Artur Szyk, Man of Dialogue.

Album-ksi„¿ka_ASzyk_wANGIELSKA.qxd 2012-05-27 20:02 Page 27
7
I
N
O
I
A
V
A
S
M
R
E
H
G

T THE GERMAN INVASION
N
N

E
L
F
O OF POLAND – 1939

O
P
A
9
1
9
3

D
N
–

When on September 1, 1939, Germans 2 27 BIOGRAPHY
attacked Poland, the Szyk family was living
in London. "I remember when we found
out about the war. We were having
breakfast one morning and we heard it on
the radio. We were not religious but we
began to pray" says Aleksandra Szyk
Braciejowska.
The artist immediately joined actions
supporting the struggle of Poles against the
Nazi occupiers. He drew a series of works
The September Campaign retreat, London 1939
that showcased the determination and
heroism of Poles who, despite
overwhelming enemy forces, did not
surrender, as well as the suffering of Jews.
Interestingly, almost every Polish soldier
drawn by Szyk is wearing the Virtuti
Militari Cross. His works had a comforting
message and meaningful titles: "We will
continue to fight," "We know that we shall
rise again," "We are united." In January
1940, at the Society of Arts the artist
showed exhibition entitled "War and
'Culture' in Poland." Nearly half of the
work was dedicated to the heroic struggle
against the occupant and the determination
of the Polish nation. The artist published
his works on postcards, he also published
his anti−fascist cartoons in Polish and A series of postcards:
British press. He donated the proceeds of Do not forgive them, London 1939
the sale to the Polish Relief Fund. In the
spring, he became the chairman of the Victims of war, London 1939
Association of Jews of Polish Descent in Exile, London 1939
Britain. He and his wife worked for Jewish
In 1940, Artur Szyk left for Canada and
then for the United States, where thro−
ughout War World Two he fought his
own private war with Adolf Hitler and the
Third Reich.