Almost nothing : the 20-th century art and life of Józef Czapski

On an extended visit to South America, Czapski found his way to Congonhas, to Aleijadinho. On my own, I found my way there, too, and then, years later, I would find my way to Czapski; a curious overlap of sensibility and experience threads its way throughout this story of his life and work.What is it that continues to make such a powerful impression on me in his paintings and drawings? At first I found their success questionable, their overall achievement limited. This book is a testimony to having decided otherwise. During the run of an exhibition of his paintings in Warsaw, Czapski was interviewed by a newspaper reporter who found his subject matter strange: “Lonely people, deserted café tables, faces half-concealed in the metro, minute daily events glimpsed in passing.” Seemingly negligible objects “like a bedside table with a single piece of string on it” were cited. Called on to justify such inconsequential presences, Czapski replied, “Each time, it is almost nothing. But that ‘almost nothing’ signifies everything.”His accomplishment is nearly unclassifiable. An entry in Czapski’s journal describes the results of a few days devoted to drawing a variety of flowers. He records his frustration at having only feebly managed to capture something of their vitality.As you draw, you feel each line conveyed on the paper as something living, irrevocable, and suddenly the drawing comes to life. . . . Two drawings of some tulips—done in a single go—seemed to me suddenly to come alive. Why? Because I felt them as I was drawing them, I felt linked to them by my awkward, hesitant, slightly distorted drawing, as if there was no break between the end of my pencil and myself. I was at the end of my pencil.It is my hope to bring Czapski to life in the way he describes drawing these tulips. He and I meet at the end of my pencil. Józef Czapski (1896-1993) Lived Many Lives--as A Soldier, Public Figure, Historical Witness, Memoirist, Essayist, And Painter. His Ninety-six Years Nearly Span The Twentieth Century In Its Entirety. He Was A Student In St. Petersburg During The Russian Revolution And A Painter In Paris In The Roaring Twenties. As A Polish Reserve Officer Fighting Against The Invading Nazis In The Opening Weeks Of The Second World War, He Was Taken Prisoner By The Soviets And Survived The Katyn Massacre. He Never Returned To Poland, Working Tirelessly In Paris To Keep Awareness Of The Plight Of His Homeland Alive, Overrun By Totalitarian Powers. Czapski Was A Towering Public Figure, But Painting Gave Meaning To His Life. Eric Karpeles, Also A Painter, Reveals Czapski's Full Complexity, Pulling Together All The Threads Of This Remarkable Life-- Introduction: Underpainting -- I Became A Painter: 1896-1939 -- Soldier, Prisoner, Survivor: 1939-1945 -- Diplomat, Advocate, Kultura: 1945-1951 -- A Return To Painting: 1951-1979 -- The Fullness Of Time: 1979-1993. Eric Karpeles. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A compelling biography of the Polish painter and writer Józef Czapski that takes readers to Paris in the Roaring Twenties, to the front lines during WWII, and into the late 20th-century art world. Józef Czapski (1896–1993) lived many lives during his ninety-six years. He was a student in Saint Petersburg during the Russian Revolution and a painter in Paris in the roaring twenties. As a Polish reserve officer fighting against the invading Nazis in the opening weeks of the Second World War, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets. For reasons unknown to this day, he was one of the very few excluded from Stalin’s sanctioned massacres of Polish officers. He never returned to Poland after the war, but worked tirelessly in Paris to keep alive awareness of the plight of his homeland, overrun by totalitarian powers. Czapski was a towering public figure, but painting gave meaning to his life. Eric Karpeles, also a painter, reveals Czapski’s full complexity, pulling together all the threads of this remarkable life. A compelling biography of the Polish painter and writer Józef Czapski that takes readers to Paris in the Roaring Twenties, to the front lines during WWII, and into the late 20th-century art world. Józef Czapski (1896-1993) lived many lives—as soldier, public figure, historical witness, memoirist, essayist and painter. His ninety-six years nearly span the twentieth century in its entirety. He was a student in St. Petersburg during the Russian Revolution and a painter in Paris in the Roaring Twenties. As a Polish reserve officer fighting off invading Nazis in the opening weeks of the Second World War, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets and survived the Katyn massacre. He never returned to Poland, working tirelessly in Paris to keep alive awareness of the plight of his homeland, overrun by totalitarian powers. Czapski was a towering public figure, but painting gave meaning to his life. Eric Karpeles, also a painter, reveals Czapski's full... "Józef Czapski (1896-1993) lived many lives--as a soldier, public figure, historical witness, memoirist, essayist, and painter. His ninety-six years nearly span the twentieth century in its entirety. He was a student in St. Petersburg during the Russian Revolution and a painter in Paris in the Roaring Twenties. As a Polish reserve officer fighting against the invading Nazis in the opening weeks of the Second World War, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets and survived the Katyn Massacre. He never returned to Poland, working tirelessly in Paris to keep awareness of the plight of his homeland alive, overrun by totalitarian powers. Czapski was a towering public figure, but painting gave meaning to his life. Eric Karpeles, also a painter, reveals Czapski's full complexity, pulling together all the threads of this remarkable life"-- Provided by publisher