marian kratochwil (1906-1997)
Kratochwil was born in Kosow, Poland in 1906.
His early training was in the studio of Stanislaw Batowski. He read philosophy and history at Lvov University.
Like other Polish artists of his generation he made his escape in dangerous circumstances from occupied Europe and rejoined the Polish army in Scotland in 1940.
After the Second World War his background and beliefs ruled out a return to his native country, and he arrived in London in 1947, more or less penniless. Two women helped him during this time, one of them, the fine New Zealand painter Kathleen Browne, eventually became his wife. The other was also a painter, Dame Ethel Walker, who recognised his talent and unusual mind.
The Britsh Museum, V&A Museum, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Torun University, Poland all hold his work.
His early training was in the studio of Stanislaw Batowski. He read philosophy and history at Lvov University.
Like other Polish artists of his generation he made his escape in dangerous circumstances from occupied Europe and rejoined the Polish army in Scotland in 1940.
After the Second World War his background and beliefs ruled out a return to his native country, and he arrived in London in 1947, more or less penniless. Two women helped him during this time, one of them, the fine New Zealand painter Kathleen Browne, eventually became his wife. The other was also a painter, Dame Ethel Walker, who recognised his talent and unusual mind.
The Britsh Museum, V&A Museum, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Torun University, Poland all hold his work.
