Author: Michał Kubiak (born 1946, Bydgoszcz)
Bronze
Signed on the lower right: MKubiak 2000 R
Property of the Pomeranian Philharmonic, inv. no. ST-VIII PO-86 (ST/13/809/01153)
Deposit at the Dom Pracy Twórczej in Radziejowice since 2014
Unveiled: 28 June 2014 during the firth Jerzy Waldorff Summer Festival
The sculpture, viewed from every angle, depicts characteristic portrait of the editor Jerzy Waldorff (1910-1999), critic and music populariser as well as social activist, especially active in matters of monument protection. Originality of this person, emanating impressive knowledge, sophisticated comportment and extraordinary language culture was recognized in the whole country, especially in the Palace in Radziejowice, where Waldorff was a frequent guest. Therefore – as an initiator of the local festival – he is today its patron.
The elongated bust, shown frontally, presents the dignified figure of a man with sloping shoulders, his arms bent at the elbows and raised before the torso so that his long-fingered hands clasp the knob of a cane. The realistically rendered head is slightly turned to the right and lifted upward, with a characteristic tilt and a defiantly protruding chin thrust forward. Another characteristic feature, emblematic for the person, is the hairstyle with a short fringe. The nobility of the striking face is emphasized by prominent cheekbones, a long aquiline nose, deep-set eyes gazing with intensity from beneath long brows and a stern grimace of small lips accompanied by a “lampshade” moustache. Known for his elegance, Waldorff is here dressed in a frock coat with flat lapels; beneath the shirt collar an intricately tied knot of his cravat is visible. The garments, with their pronounced wide cuffs, are rendered softly, while at the back the surface remains porous, bearing visible traces of the chisel.
Text: Elżbieta Charazińska
Editing: Beata Fiugajska
Photo: Piotr Ligier