Hygenic Exhibition

Konstanty Kietlicz-Rayski (1868–1924), a painter, illustrator, publicist, anthropologist, theatre critic and actor. Studied in the School of Fine Arts in Cracow and afterwards took lessons with a prominent painter, Wojciech Gerson (1831–1901), in Warsaw. Spiritus movens of artistic and cultural life of Lublin and Szczawnica. Author of a series of paintings called Teka sztuki podhalańskiej, documenting the traditional art of Podhale (the Polish highlands) and Szczawnica, as well as progenitor of the idea of founding the Pieniny Mountains Museum [Muzeum Pienińskie] and a school for folk crafts.

The poster announces the Hygienic Exhibition organised in Lublin in 1908 by a Lublin subsidiary of the Warsaw Hygienic Society [Polish: Warszawskie Towarzystwo Higieniczne], that was supposed to raise awareness on hygiene and health among the general public. Different items were showcased at the exhibition: models and statistical tables, hospital equipment, medical tools, household appliances, educational publications on hygiene. Also, various health resorts and spas of Zakopane, Niemirów, Ciechocinek, Nałęczów, Druskienniki, as well as doctors and pharmacists, advertised their services during the exhibition.

The poster layout is based on the representation of a woman feeding a snake. It is Hygeia, Greek goddess of health and personification of hygiene. Depicted in a whole-body posture, dressed in a chiton, with a helmet on her head decorated with the emblem of the city of Lublin and with a shield at her thigh with a deer alluding to the emblem of the Lublin governorate. The snake-feeding scene is taking place with the Lublin castle in the background and on its walls. In the central part of the composition, a text field was placed with the information about the exhibition in Polish and Russian. The artist applied an unified typeface.