⚲ Gnosa Acéphalica ⚲

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling (In Living Colour)

There are things you wouldn't even believe happening in Myanmar

Królewna Kotka (Cat Princess). Artist: Konstanty Laszczka (Polish, 1865-1956). Place of Creation: Kraków, Poland. Date: Circa 1928. Medium: Plaster; 47 x 22 x 26 cm. Collection: Społeczne Muzeum Konstantego Laszczki, Dobre, Poland. Photographer: Przemysław Piątkowski, Fotopia & Virtual Museum. There's a story behind this artwork that goes back to childhood. the artist drew direct inspiration from a Polish folktale he'd heard as a child. In his 1927 book, Gawędy z uczniami (Conversations with Students), Laszczka shares a tale about a beautiful and compassionate princess who's turned into a black cat by a jealous witch. In the story, the cat's color changes based on the love and patience she's shown; her coat turns from black to brown, and then to pure white. The tale emphasizes that no evil power can stop this transformation. That's why Laszczka made three different cat sculptures: black, brown, and white. While the white and brown figures are safely kept today at the museum in Dobre, the black sculpture is unfortunately lost and it's only known through photographs now. He studied in Paris as a young artist. During this time, he was deeply influenced by Rodin's approach to the human figure - treating it not as a finished form, but as a being caught in the middle of a transformation. This influence is clearly visible in this piece.