Bavarian lions and polish eagels - realtionships between Bavaria and Poland

general courses

Classes are held online on the google meet platform. A link to the class will be generated before the first meeting and sent to participants.

Remote learning

Each meeting is devoted to a different topic related to Bavaria and Poland over several centuries, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with a special focus on Polish painters studying at the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts in the 19th century, known as the 'Polish Munichers'. In this extraordinary journey, we get to know Bavaria as a special federal state on the map of federal Germany with numerous connections to Poland.

Poland and Bavaria have many historical and cultural links. The wedding of the Polish princess Hedwig to George, Duke of Lower Bavaria, which took place in the Bavarian town of Landshut in 1475, is commemorated as the most important family relationship in Bavaria - every four years the event is re-enacted in this Bavarian town with great attention to detail - well worth seeing one day. But how many Polish princesses gave their hand to the Bavarian rulers? And which of them was the Bavarian queen in charge of this powerful state for a while? Each of our meetings will focus on a different selected topic or event related to Bavaria and Poland over the centuries, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It is quite a big undertaking, but we will try to delve into history and look at the extraordinary Polish-Bavarian relationship. We will also learn about Bavaria as a powerful kingdom, investing in culture and the arts over the centuries. In the nineteenth century, we will learn about famous and unknown Polish painters who became part of Munich's cultural landscape and linked their artistic and private lives to it. Together we will find information from beyond the official biographies, perhaps finding hitherto unknown biographical elements. The picture will be complemented by the characteristics of the city of Munich - both 19th century and contemporary, culturally vibrant and worth a visit. We will get to know the unusual places on its map and - often following in the footsteps of Polish Munichers - go on an exciting journey through Germany's largest federal state, Bavaria. To this day, it is a special state on the map of federal Germany (Freistaat Bayern), living a bit of its own life and hiding various mysteries (has anyone solved the criminal mystery of the death of King Ludwig II, who drowned in a shallow lake?), with numerous historical and cultural links to Poland. And the Polish painters studying and living in Munich in the 19th century truly deserve a mention, for they were not only students, but often also professors, teaching male and female students (how so? Were women not allowed to study?) in this extraordinary city.

Adel in Bayern – Ritter, Grafen, Industriebarone, red. Wolfgang Jahn, Margot Hamm, Eva-Maria Brockhoff, Augsburg 2008

Ateny nad Izarą – Malarstwo monachijskie, red. Eliza Ptaszyńska, Suwałki 2012

Die Geschichte Bayerns, Henric L. Wuermeling, Monachium 2003

Klan Malczewskich, Paulina Szymalak-Bugajska, Magdalena Ewa Nosowska

Polnische Löwen, Bayerische Adler – auf den Spuren der gemeinsamen Geschichte, Nina Kozłowska, Ewa Krasińska-Klaputh, Aleksander Menhard, München - Warschau 2010

Polnische Maler in München, Suwalki 2005

Sprechen Sie Bairisch?, Verlag Tosa 2010

The learning outcome is the broadening and deepening of knowledge on selected topics as well as the acquisition of social competences. Students learn about the history of Bavaria and important events and about the historical and cultural connections between Bavaria and Poland. They learn about Polish painters who studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts in the 19th century and about places in Bavaria and Munich which are connected to them. It acquires cultural knowledge, but also acquires the social competence to talk about Bavaria and its history and culture in a broad European context.

The seminar is intended for both art enthusiasts and people for whom the subject is completely new, both those who are familiar with Bavaria and Germany and those who have never been there, as in the seminar form we will complement and enrich each other's knowledge of the subject. Knowledge of German is not necessary, although it will come in handy for the mini-course in Bavarian dialect which is integrated into the class.

The seminar is intended for both art enthusiasts and people for whom the subject is completely new, both those who are familiar with Bavaria and Germany and those who have never been there before, as in the seminar format we will complement and enrich each other's knowledge of the subject. Knowledge of the German language is not necessary, although it will come in handy for the Bavarian language mini-course which is integrated into the class.

Grading/assessment criteria: Active attendance in class, reading of selected excerpts from the course literature and participation in the discussion, and preparation of your own 6-10 minute presentation (power point or presi) on a selected topic related to the seminar topic.

A visit to a selected Gallery of Polish Painting, presenting works by "Polish Munichers"