Works by the Scottish artist Jozef Sekalski (1904 - 1972) rarely come on the market. There is a fantastic selection of his exquisite wood engravings and book illustrations in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland that was presented to them by the Estate of the Family.
This is a strange wood engraving by Sekalski which would have been used as a Christmas Card and presented to his friends. There seems to be a tradition of artists making little special artworks to gift to friends as Christmas cards in December. Please also see my selection of cards made by Robin Philipson listed in my store.
This wood engraving has a very un-Christmas title "Boogie Woogie" and the image is also suitably strange. The image is made up for three separate sections illustrating different Christmas events. The lower section (I think) shows the Nazi occupation of Warsaw and the lack of Christmas celebrations and destruction of Polish culture and buildings at this time. The central image shows modern 1940s Christmas concert with jazz music (hence the Boogie Woogie reference) and dancing. The top section shows a typical Christmas image of the Angel Gabriel guiding Josef and Mary to Bethlehem.
Dimensions: Frame Size is 26 x 18.5 cm. The image size is 11.5 x 5.3 cm.
It is a fabulous and very rare survivor - especially one produced as an art print / wood engraving that has been pencil signed and dated '47 by the artist. The print has not been laid down and is in good condition. We have had it all professionally framed so that it is all ready just to hang on your wall. This is all reflected in my asking price for this little gem.
Postage in the UK will be with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery. This will cost about £10 and applied to your order at the checkout.
BIOGRAPHY: Sekalski was a Polish painter, printer, etcher and illustrator who lived and worked in Scotland. He was born in 1904 in Turek, Poland. He studied medicine for several years but gave it up to study at Wilno University’s Faculty of Fine Art. He painted church murals until in 1937 and he became head of a studio in Lódź. He escaped from occupied Poland in 1940 and travelled to Budapest, where he held a very successful print show depicting the burning of Warsaw.
He then travelled to France where he enlisted in the French-run Polish Army. He was captured and escaped to Scotland where he joined the Polish Forces in exile.
After the war he decided to stay in St Andrews. There he constructed his own printing press – an ingenious item that was made from the back axle of a car, a tick box and odds and ends. He had a studio that he shared with his wife, Roberta Hodges called The Bell Rock House, located at St Andrews Harbour. He was a member of the celebrated St Andrews Group of Wood Engravers – which also included Alison and Winifred McKenzie (please see my works by them listed on my site). His illustrations for books are just amazing. He published his first book in secret in 1940 during the German occupation in Warsaw.
He was a great teacher and taught at Glasgow School of Art, the Dundee Institute of Art and Technology and the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. Sekalski often showed with the Society of Scottish Artists, of which he was elected a member as well being elected an RE, RA, and RSA academician. His work is in the collection of the NGS and the Mcmanus Gallery in Dundee.