„Józef Piłsudski” a propaganda flier

Propaganda leaflet (published by the General Inspectorate of the Volunteer Army, relating to the Polish–Bolshevik War of 1919–1920).

Władysław Skoczylas’s composition entitled ‘Józef Piłsudski’ is characterised by vertical dynamism, centred around the imposing figure of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, depicted on a rearing white horse, set against a rural landscape with flames from a fire visible rising above the rooftops. At the horse’s feet lies the figure of a Soviet soldier in a characteristic cap with a red star. On the right-hand side of the print is a tree, beneath which a group of local inhabitants (a man, a woman and small children) are gathered. A small shrine with a crucifix hangs from the tree trunk.
The colour palette is stark and vivid, dominated by warm shades of yellow, orange and brown. The bright red of the sky contrasts with the dazzling white of the Marshal’s horse. Light and shadow are rendered through bold contrasts and flat blocks of colour, typical of the woodcut technique, giving the image a graphic intensity without any discernible natural light source. Strong, thick black lines define the forms, from the outlines of the figures and the horse to the details of the landscape and the crucifix. Linear hatching suggests the textures and spatiality of the objects. The combination of bold lines and textural patterns contributes to the leaflet’s powerful, almost austere visual impact.