All tagged Poland

Chawa Złoczower

Marc Zinaman

Though she was frequently a target of both political and social persecution, Eve Adams showed a tenacity and fighting spirit at every turning point during her radical, audacious life. As a visibly queer Jewish woman, Adams was unafraid to challenge societal norms and live unabashedly as herself, choosing to pursue whatever felt deeply normal to her, even if everyone else surrounding her challenged those pursuits. Though her life came to an untimely and tragic end, Adams’ complex and multifaceted story has been unearthed in more recent years thanks to the efforts of several thorough historians, and she is now remembered as a pioneering figure in the LGBTQ+ community. As an advocate for sexual freedom, a subversive anarchist, a trailblazer in the establishment of queer spaces for women, and the author of one of the earliest lesbian ethnographies in the U.S., Adams' work highlights the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ rights, radical politics, and the fight against antisemitism and fascism, while her life story survives as a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of those who fought for the right to live and love openly.

Witold Gombrowicz

Harper-Hugo Darling

Though now the legacy of Witold Gombrowicz is a rather universally celebrated one, within his lifetime, this was hardly the case. A Polish anti-nationalist whose work was banned, unbanned, celebrated, and derided, only his death secured his place as a loved and mostly uncontroversial writer. This place likely would have chafed against the author if he had lived to see it, as he spent much of his time deliberately leaning into both the love and hate he inspired.

Maria Dąbrowska

Harper-Hugo Darling

Content warning for antisemitism, Holocaust, concentration camps

Maria Dąbrowska is one of the most well-known authors in Polish history, writing incredible novels about class and family dynamics within Poland. Throughout her life, she was defined as being a moral authority for her country and time and is admired to this day. This is particularly interesting considering one-third of Poland recently announced they will become LGBT+ free. Dąbrowska, one of their most famous figures, had numerous relationships with women and men during her life. That just leaves the question: what does one lose when they denounce an entire segment of their country? Dąbrowska may have benefitted from asking herself the same question.

Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz

Harper-Hugo Darling

The most discussed portion of Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz’s life is his work; as an incredibly influential poet, playwright, essayist, and translator who deeply affected the Polish art scene, this is not surprising. What is surprising is the depth of information about his life that is too often glossed over. From his participation in hiding Jewish refugees, his information stopping an attempted Nazi coup in Denmark, and his consistently loving relationship with his wife and children as a gay man, there is much to discuss outside of his writing.

Tamara de Lempicka

Tamara de Lempicka

Harper-Hugo Darling
Happy Endings, World War 2

When writing an article about an artist, one expects to have some discussion of the art created by the person in question, but in this case, that is going to be avoided. Tamara de Lempicka was a highly controversial artist, and there is no lack of people studying her work, no matter which side they fall on in regards to its worth. But we are not going to be looking at that, as we are not art experts, and have never claimed to be. We are going to be looking instead at her life, and it is an extraordinary one to discuss.

The Rainbow of Flowers

The Rainbow of Flowers

Harper-Hugo Darling

There are times when a tactical retreat is necessary for a battle. Those fighting against the queer community were fighting with fire, while the queer community was fighting with flowers. Even though it was not intended, a rainbow was seen as an attack against a homophobic government. It incited anger in politicians and the general populous alike. Not only does this speak to the power of art, but it speaks to the nature of the queer community. Though not passive folk; while some may fight with flowers, they fight. Finding a symbol where one was not intended, and using it, to stand up against those who find not only queer symbols but queer existence incendiary.