Vintage Polish Magazines
In Communist run Poland magazines could only be published under the auspices of state institutions with a designated paper allocation (which was often in short supply).
By persuading organisations to publish on their behalf, leading artists and writers were able to produce some of the world’s most originally designed and sought after mid-century fashion and design magazines.
We love framing vintage Polish magazines, but the photography, typography, illustrations and articles inside also make them beautiful objects in their own right. They are part of the legacy of the Polish School of Posters and a special part of graphic design history.
Polska (Poland) was a leading design and culture magazine in PRL and its cover was always designed by one of the artists from the Polish School of Posters. It was produced from 1954 until it was suspended in 1982 due to martial law.
Projekt was published in five languages including English and its main focus was to promote Polish art and design abroad. Started by Roman Cieslewicz in 1956 and art-directed by Hubert Hilscher for 20 years, Projekt also featured leading arts talents from around the world. It became a champion of Modernist graphic design in both the East and West during the 1960s and 70s. In the early 80s, when the authorities imposed martial law to try and suppress anti-communist activities Projekt’s editors announced their collective resignation.
In Stalinist Poland jazz was banned and went underground. Jazz became synonymous with all forms of art that were fighting for artistic independence. Polish Jazz goes hand in hand with the quest of the Polish School of Poster artists for democracy and freedom.
Ty i Ja was twentieth-century Poland's most important fashion, art and lifestyle magazine. Meaning 'You and I’ in English, the magazine ran from 1960 to 1973 and was one the best-designed publications in Europe at the time.