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VISUAL HISTORY OF NATIONS 9 94 Visual History of Nations
Poland, 1946 France, 1947 USA, 1945
he Statute of Kalisz is one of several series of Dam, a modern airplane or a locomotive which
miniatures, the artist told the history of opened the way for settlers to conquer the Wild
T events related to a historical figure or fact. West.
Soon after the war, he began working on a new
cseries presenting a visual history of the world on a Visual History of France,
commission from a Canadian collector of stamps. As New Canaan 1947
many works were planned as there were countries This work is a true mosaic of detail. The artist
that became part of the United Nations formed in shows 90 coats of arms of French cities over which a
October 1945 upon the inspiration from the U.S. symbol of the French Republic is placed – a tricolor
President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 1945, Szyk flag with the words: Freedom, Equality, Fraternity. At
created a visual history of the United States, and then the bottom, two freedom fighters: a soldier from the
more countries: Britain, Canada, England, France, Marine Corps of General de Gaulle's Army and a
China, the Soviet Union, Swiss and Poland, which member of the resistance. Key figures from the
since the founding of the UN is considered to be a history of France to Szyk were: Marquis Lafayette,
member of this organization, although Poles were Jean d'Arc, playwright Moliere and scientist, founder
unable to attend the first conference in San Francisco of microbiology, Louis Pasteur.
for political reasons. The project was never
completed by the artist. Visual History of Poland
New Canaan 1946
Visual History of the United States, The history of Poland consists of the figures of four
New Canaan 1945 Polish heroes: Nicolas Copernicus, astronomer,
The engraving is dominated by an American eagle Frederic Chopin, outstanding pianist and composer,
– a symbol of freedom and strength, which protects as well as Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko,
representatives of various races and professions who were the heroes of two nations: Polish and
under its wings. Artur Szyk shows that the American American. The Polish eagle is depicted above, albeit
people consists in equal measure of cowboys, without the crown. The Polish nation is represented
workers, soldiers and sailors, but also black farmers by a miner – symbol of industry – and a peasant in
and Native Americans. It also emphasizes the a traditional garb. The work also features the first
formula: e pluribus unum (Latin for: one made of Polish king Boleslaus Chrobry (the Brave) and coats
many). The main theme in America, however, is the of arms, first and foremost the mermaid – the
modernity. We recognize the New York skyline, the symbol of invincible Warsaw with a sword in her
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Hoover hand.