Culturedarm

A dramatic print covers the walls of the dressing room. The delicate porcelain basin and fittings add appealing contrast to the room's exotic look.

‘Magic of the Slavs’ cycle by Zofia Stryjeńska (Polish, 1891-1976).

Pictures from a French edition, 1934, via Agra Art.

The cycle shows some of the most notable Slavic rituals of pagan origins that had survived to the modern era in the rural customs. Original Polish title, ‘Gusła Słowian’, uses the archaic Polish word ‘gusła’ - a hard-to-translate concept comprising magic and rituals (mostly of shamanic nature) along with superstitions. Mrs Stryjeńska created 8 plates for this cycle. The illustrations include also the artist’s interpretations of old-Slavic gods (lesser/local deities as well as the major gods and goddesses).

On the plates above:

Svetovid’s Oak Tree

Śmigust (read: Śmigus-Dyngus)

Wianki (wreaths)

Kupala Night

Oczepiny (rite of a passage of a bride)

Dożynki (harvest festival) 

Walking with turoń (read: kolędowanie)

Drowning of Marzanna’s Effigy 

[9th picture is a cover art of the French edition of the booklet]

Mattias Gunnarsson Studio work 2020 - 2024