Lithograph on board
Tate Collection
Works with images
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Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/janusz-przybylski-1807" aria-label="More by Janusz Przybylski" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Janusz Przybylski</a>
Mr Jester
Presented by Professor Akumal Ramachander 1985
abstraction
adults
body
clothing and personal items
emotions, concepts and ideas
figure
from recognisable sources
hat
head / face
humour
man
mask
objects
people
universal concepts
paper print lithograph board
Mr Jester
image: 583 × 452 mm
Presented by Professor Akumal Ramachander 1985
<em>This catalogue entry discusses a group of works; details of the individual work are given at the end of the introductory text.</em>
<p>
<strong>Janusz Przybylski</strong> born 1937
</p><p>
<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/przybylski-mrs-bosom-p11089" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P11089</span></a> - <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/przybylski-mr-jester-p11090" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P11090</span></a> <strong>Imagined Portraits</strong> 1983
</p><p>
 Two lithographs from a series of ten, on cardboard, various sizes; each printed and published by the artist in an edition of 50<br/>
Presented by Professor Akumal Ramachander 1985<br/>
<em>Lit:</em> <em>Janusz Przybylski: Portrety Z Wyobrazni</em>, exh.cat., Galeria Kordegra, Warsaw 1986, [p.5]
</p><p>
<span>P11090</span> <strong>Mr Jester</strong> 1983
</p><p>
Lithograph 583 x 452 (22 15/16 x 17 13/16) on cardboard 675 x 545 (26 9/16 x 21 7/16)<br/>
Inscribed ' "Figlarz" litografia 2/50' b.l. and 'Janusz Przybylski 1983' b.r.
</p><p>
Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations from the artist come from a letter to the compiler, postmarked 14 March 1988.
</p><p>
<span>P11089</span> was originally translated as 'Lady with Big Tits' and <span>P11090</span> as 'Trickster' (<em>Tate Gallery Report 1984-6</em>, 1986, p.149), but in the letter quoted above, the artist stated a preference for the titles now adopted. The works belong to a series begun in 1965 which cover the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/medium" title="Glossary definition for 'Medium'"><span>media</span></a> of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawing</span></a>, <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>printmaking</span></a> and <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a>. In a letter to the compiler dated 1 July 1988 the artist writes that the series consists of '28 oil paintings, 10 prints and 15 pastels and drawings. The series is not finished. I still come back to it'.
</p><p>
Both <span>P11089</span> and <span>P11090</span> were made in Warsaw during March 1983, in the artist's studio as the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/a/academy" title="Glossary definition for 'Academy'"><span>Academy</span></a> of Fine Arts. The artist worked with <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/l/lithography" title="Glossary definition for 'Lithography'"><span>lithographic</span></a> <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/i/ink" title="Glossary definition for 'Ink'"><span>ink</span></a> and crayon on <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/metal" title="Glossary definition for 'Metal'"><span>zinc</span></a> plates. In each case he cites 'the human face' as being the source of inspiration for these works. He writes, 'since 1965 masks of human faces have often appeared in my painting and graphic work. [They represent a development towards synthesis and simplification, based just on this motif'. The titles provided the starting point in the case of <span>P11089</span> 'Lady with Big Tits' and <span>P55090</span> 'Mr Jester', translated more idiomatically as 'Busty Lady' and 'Trickster'.
</p><p>
The artist stresses his intuitive approach to his imagery rather than their functions as representations of the human face:
</p><blockquote>
This series of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portraits</span></a> presents the registration of impressions by the imagination, without caring whether the signs used in the work correspond to the ones existing in nature. Physical similarity is not of importance; important is the truth apprehended, deeply hidden - essential truth. Names like 'Mrs Bosom' and 'Mr Jester' used in a joking fashion, derive from intuitive associations caused by the methods of visual recording and <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/composition" title="Glossary definition for 'Composition'"><span>composition</span></a> of lines forming a work.
</blockquote>
<span>P11089</span> is related to works in the series in other media, such as 'Teresa' 1985 (<em>Janusz Przybylski: Portety Z Wyobrazni</em> 1986, pl.1).
<p>
<strong>Published in:</strong><br/>
<em>The Tate Gallery 1984-86: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions Including Supplement to Catalogue of Acquisitions 1982-84</em>, Tate Gallery, London 1988, pp.445-6

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Catalogue entry
2004-09-15T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
abstraction adults body clothing and personal items emotions, concepts and ideas figure from recognisable sources hat head / face humour man mask objects people universal concepts