Mieczyslaw Wasilewski
1942 - Present
Mieczyslaw Wasilewski, or Mietek as he likes to be called, was born in Warsaw on New Year’s day in 1942 and studied at the department for painting and graphic design at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts under one of the founding fathers of the Polish School of Posters Prof. Henryk Tomaszewski.
When Wasilewski graduated he became Tomaszewski’s studio assistant and continued to work with him for almost twenty years. When Tomaszewski retired he took over running the studio and has lectured in some of the best design schools around the world. In 1990 Wasilewski was awarded a professorship.
Tomaszewski taught Wasilewski to think about poster design intellectually - it is the idea which grabs you, not the sensationalism of the image. His work is minimalist and often monochrome using painterly lines. Wasilewski takes out all that is not important; leaving beautifully succinct compositions with plenty of space.
Wasilewski is a truth seeker who doesn’t like to take himself too seriously - his iconic anti-war poster inspired by the Shakespearian quote ‘to be (w)ar not to be’, designed in 1975 is one of our favourite pieces. The impact of the typographic ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ design is similarly striking.
Mieczyslaw Wasilewski has received many awards for his poster design and his work has been displayed in private shows and exhibitions around the world.
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This steamy and evocative pared-back monochrome Polish film poster, designed by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski, is a must have for any fan of the coming-of-age cult classic ‘Dirty Dancing’.
The feel-good film starred Patrick Swayze as arrogant hip-swinging lead dancer at Kellerman's resort, and Jennifer Grey as sweet, naive 'baby' who finds love and, more importantly, herself that summer.
This is a modern limited edition, reprinted in Poland with kind permission from Mieczyslaw Wasilewski.
Polish B1 size: 67 x 96 cm
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
This stunning monochrome original vintage Polish poster from 1986 was designed by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski for US comedy-drama ‘Prizzi’s Honor’ (Honor Prizzich) starring Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner and Angelica Huston who was the director’s daughter and won an academy award for her performance.
Polish B1 size: 68 x 98 cm approx
Mieczyslaw Wasilewski is the master of very simple and very beautiful illustration which so elegantly uses the negative space. This original 1979 Polish poster is a wonderful example. It was designed for a Hungarian comedy film ‘Chwytajcie i Bierzcie’ (Take it and Get it).
Polish B2 size: 47.5 x 67 cm
This original 1980 vintage Polish film poster is a beautiful example of Polish graphic artist Mieczyslaw Wasilewski’s pared back monochromatic style. He designed this in 1980 for the Polish cinema release of Soviet movie ‘Jesienny Maraton’ (Autumn Marathon).
Condition - please note this copy has been previously folded and has some very small amount of discolouration on the right hand side.
Polish B1 size: 68.5 x 98 cm
This is a sublime vintage Polish film poster by the brilliant graphic designer Mieczyslaw Wasilewski. He designed it in 1976 for the Polish cinema release of 1974 Oscar award winning US movie “Earthquake” (Trzesienie Ziemi) starring Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner.
Polish A1 size: 59 x 84 cm approx
This original 1973 Polish poster by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski is interesting as it’s very different from his usual painterly and minimalist monochrome style. He designed it for an Italian film of the same name directed by Pietro Germi.
Condition: This vintage poster is in perfect condition :)
Polish A1 size: 58.5 x 81 cm
About Mieczysław Wasilewski
Wasilewski was born on New Year’s Day in Warsaw, 1942. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under one of the ‘fathers’ of the Polish School of Posters - professor Henryk Tomaszewski. As well as working as a prolific designer he also works as a professor in Graphic Design across the world. He’s received numerous prestigious awards in the field of poster design and editorial graphics.
You can read a beautiful interview with Wasilewski here (he’s a big fan of Banksy!)
“Today, especially in the times of image-dependent civilization, these short, concise visual statements are even more meaningful than before. Today, when we are flooded with visual blabber, it is poster with capital P, I think, that should be the positive carrier of all positive ideas”
We adore Mieczyslaw Wasilewski (who we met in real life) - he’s not only a phenomenal human, he’s an absolute graphic design genius. This wonderful 1978 film poster ‘Tanase Scatiu’ (A Summer Tale) is a wonderful example of his monochrome graphic style.
Polish A1 size: 58 x 84 cm approx
Condition: very good
We adore Mieczyslaw Wasilewski’s monochrome and minimalist graphic design style and this original 1979 poster is a wonderful example. He designed it for a Soviet film ‘Some Questions on Personal Matters ‘ (Kilka Pytan na Tematy Osobiste).
Polish B1 size: 68 x 97 cm
This fabulous vintage Polish poster was designed by the utterly wonderful human that is Mieczyslaw Wasilewski in 1983. It was for the Polish cinema release of Soviet film ‘Fathers and Grandfathers’ (Musimy Ozenic Dziadka).
Polish B1 size: 97.5 x 67.5 cm
This original 1989 Polish poster is such a strong minimalist design by legendary artist from the Polish School of Posters Mieczyslaw Wasilewski. We are huge fans of his style and this poster for ‘Hibiscus Town’ (Miasteczko Hibiscus), produced right at the end of the Communist period in Poland, in no exception.
Polish B1 size: 67 x 96 cm
Condition: very good
About Mieczysław Wasilewski
Wasilewski was born on New Year’s Day in Warsaw, 1942. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under one of the ‘fathers’ of the Polish School of Posters - professor Henryk Tomaszewski. As well as working as a prolific designer he also works as a professor in Graphic Design across the world. He’s received numerous prestigious awards in the field of poster design and editorial graphics.
You can read a beautiful interview with Wasilewski here (he’s a big fan of Banksy!)
“Today, especially in the times of image-dependent civilisation, these short, concise visual statements are even more meaningful than before. Today, when we are flooded with visual blabber, it is poster with capital P, I think, that should be the positive carrier of all positive ideas”
This is such a cool design by one of our favourite artists from the Polish School of Posters - Mieczyslaw Wasilewski. It’s an original vintage Polish film Poster from 1983 for a Soviet movie ‘Zakochany na Wlasne Zyczenie’ - or ‘Love by Request’.
Polish B1 size: 67 x 93.5 cm
How incredibly sexy is this Polish film poster by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski? He designed this ‘Cenny Depozyt’ (The Wild Goose Chase) vintage Polish poster in 1977 to promote the 1975 French film ‘La course a l'échalote’ starring Jane Birkin and Pierre Richard.
Polish B1 size: 66.5 x 97.5 cm
Another strikingly beautiful monochrome Mieczyslaw Wasilewski’s poster. He designed this 1987 vintage Polish film poster for a Soviet crime comedy ‘Daring Girl’ (Przebojowa Dziewczyna).
Polish B1 size: 67.5 x 97.5 cm
Condition: Please note this poster has been previously folded.
This is a super cool vintage Polish film poster designed by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski in 1975. ‘Przeciw Kingowi’ (Against King) was a Yugoslavian film and this poster advertised its Polish cinema release.
Polish A1 size: 57 x 79.5 cm
This 1978 Polish film poster by the genius graphic designer Mieczyslaw Wasilewski is just incredible. He designed it for a Russian / Soviet film ‘Wielki Samotnik’ which roughly translates as ‘The Great Solitary’. Which do you see first… the beautiful woman, or the man in pieces?
Polish A1 size: 58.5 x 83.5 cm
This very special original 1984 Polish poster by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski was designed for a 1978 Turkish/Soviet Union film ‘The Legend of Love’ (Legenda o Milosci). We are big fans of Wasilewski’s stripped back illustrative minimalism. There’s always more to see than first meets the eye. Can you spot the second face?
Polish B1 size: 68 x 98 cm
About Mieczyslaw Wasilewski
Wasilewski was born on New Year’s Day in Warsaw, 1942. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under one of the ‘fathers’ of the Polish School of Posters - professor Henryk Tomaszewski. As well as working as a prolific designer he also works as a professor in Graphic Design across the world. He’s received numerous prestigious awards in the field of poster design and editorial graphics.
You can read a beautiful interview with Wasilewski here (he’s a big fan of Banksy!)
“Today, especially in the times of image-dependent civilization, these short, concise visual statements are even more meaningful than before. Today, when we are flooded with visual blabber, it is poster with capital P, I think, that should be the positive carrier of all positive ideas”
It’s back! The bold typographic design on this original 1988 Polish poster for classic British/US war epic ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’ (Most na Rzece Kwai) by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski is one of our absolute favourites. During Communist rule Western publicity materials were banned so the state-commissioned artists were able to operate completely free from the big Hollywood Studios.
Polish B1 size: 67.5 x 96 cm
Condition - please note the discolouration around the edges of the poster.
About Mieczysław Wasilewski
Wasilewski was born on New Year’s Day in Warsaw, 1942. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under one of the ‘fathers’ of the Polish School of Posters - professor Henryk Tomaszewski. As well as working as a prolific designer he also works as a professor in Graphic Design across the world. He’s received numerous prestigious awards in the field of poster design and editorial graphics.
You can read a beautiful interview with Wasilewski here (he’s a big fan of Banksy!)
“Today, especially in the times of image-dependent civilization, these short, concise visual statements are even more meaningful than before. Today, when we are flooded with visual blabber, it is poster with capital P, I think, that should be the positive carrier of all positive ideas”
This is a sensational original 1978 Polish poster by the wonderful Mieczyslaw Wasilewski for the Japanese film production ‘Ebirah - Potwor z Glebin’ (Ebirah, Horror of the Deep).
Polish A1 size: 83 x 59 cm
This original 1988 Polish poster was rescued from the printing house after it closed down and it is in perfect condition. This is a great example of Mieczyslaw Wasilewski - free yet minimal black paintbrush strokes and thoughtful type - for the US hit movie ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ (Wielka Draka w Chinskiej Dzielnicy).
Polish B1 size: 66 x 95.5 cm
Condition: this lovely poster has some slight discolouration (visible in the detailed photos).
About Mieczyslaw Wasilewski
Wasilewski was born on New Year’s Day in Warsaw, 1942. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under one of the ‘fathers’ of the Polish School of Posters - professor Henryk Tomaszewski. As well as working as a prolific designer he also works as a professor in Graphic Design across the world. He’s received numerous prestigious awards in the field of poster design and editorial graphics.
You can read a beautiful interview with Wasilewski here (he’s a big fan of Banksy!)
“Today, especially in the times of image-dependent civilisation, these short, concise visual statements are even more meaningful than before. Today, when we are flooded with visual blabber, it is poster with capital P, I think, that should be the positive carrier of all positive ideas”
This is a wow vintage Polish poster as far as we’re concerned. It helps that it was designed by the utterly wonderful human that is Mieczyslaw Wasilewski, but gosh it’s sublime. Wasilewski designed it in 1977 for the Polish cinema release of French film ‘L'education amoureuse de Valentin’ (Milosna Edukacja Walentego/Valentine’s Love Education).
Polish A1 size: 59 x 84 cm
About Mieczyslaw Wasilewski
Wasilewski was born on New Year’s Day in Warsaw, 1942. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under one of the ‘fathers’ of the Polish School of Posters - professor Henryk Tomaszewski. As well as working as a prolific designer he also works as a professor in Graphic Design across the world. He’s received numerous prestigious awards in the field of poster design and editorial graphics.
You can read a beautiful interview with Wasilewski here (he’s a big fan of Banksy!)
“Today, especially in the times of image-dependent civilization, these short, concise visual statements are even more meaningful than before. Today, when we are flooded with visual blabber, it is poster with capital P, I think, that should be the positive carrier of all positive ideas”
Beautiful vintage 1968 Polish poster ‘The Girl at the Crossroad’ (Dziewczyna na Rozdrozu) by Mieczyslaw Wasilewski. He’s another artist who studied under the great Henryk Tomaszewski, and went on to be his assistant. We love her delicate pink cheeks - just so pretty.
Polish A1 size: 58.5 x 83.5 cm
Condition: please see detailed photos.
Original 1979 vintage film poster by one of our favourite Polish artists Mieczyslaw Wasilewski.
Polish A1 size: 66.5 x 94 cm
This original 1988 Polish poster is such a strong minimalist design by legendary artist from the Polish School of Posters Mieczyslaw Wasilewski. We are huge fans of his style and this poster for ‘Death Shadows’ (Cienie Smierci), produced right at the end of the Communist period in Poland, in no exception.
Polish B1 size: 99 x 69 cm