Page 17 - Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana w Łodzi. Artur Szyk, Man of Dialogue.

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Artur Szyk often called himself an illuminator.
Illuminator is a medieval artist-craftsman,
decorating pages of books – both
manuscripts and prints – with the 1 17 BIOGRAPHY
so-called illuminations. The word
'illumination' is derived from Latin
'illuminare' (to bring light).
At first, it meant decorating
a book page with gold. More
decorative, figurative
illustrations were made
by a miniature painter.

In 1923, the French go−
vernment awarded Artur Szyk
the French Officer's Palm for
his work.

Artur Szyk, Illuminator,
Paris 1935

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K
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S STATUTE OF KALISZ – PARIS, 1926-1929
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In 1926, Artur Szyk began working on the document demonstrating the glory of Poland. In
Statute of Kalisz – the work of his life. the Statute of Kalisz, I glorify one of the finest acts
On the title page, the artist explains his goal: of Polish liberalism in the history of Europe".
"For the glory of my country, for the enemies' Artur Szyk
condemnation". His Statute of Kalisz was shown in Paris, Geneva
The Statute is a collection of 45 illuminated texts and London. Under the patronage of August
with decorated initials and miniatures, presenting a Zaleski, the Minister Foreign Affairs in the Second
privilege granted to the Jews in 1264 by the Polish Republic of Poland, "A Mobile Exhibition of the
Duke Boleslaus the Pious. The rights of Jews were Works of Artur Szyk" was organized in 1932−1933,
confirmed later by successive Polish kings, including featuring the Statute and other works of the artist
Casimir the Great in 1334, Casimir Jagiello in at exhibitions in 14 Polish cities. The Statute was
1453, Sigismund the Old in 1539. The illuminated also exhibited in the United States.
miniatures showed the Polish−Jewish history, from In 1931, Artur Szyk was awarded the Gold
the eleventh century to the present. Cross of Merit for his work for Poland.
"The impulse to create the Statute was the May More detailed description of the Statute of Kalisz
Coup d'État. I felt that I had to show the world a is in the next chapter.