Zofia Rydet (1911–1997) was one of the most original Polish artists of the 20th century. She took up photography at age 40. From the mid-1950s she took part in the international fine-art photography movement. From the mid-1960s she pursued distinctive series of works, initially inspired by humanist photography and neorealism. Her largest, never-finished work is Sociological Record, an intriguing, existential series documenting the condition of Polish society in the late 1970s and early 80s.
The series of photomontages World of Feelings and Imagination, also published in book form in 1979, holds a special place in Rydet’s oeuvre. It is a metaphorical narrative of human life, alluding to the tradition of surrealism but told from an empathetic, feminist perspective.
As the artist explained, the series “depicts humans in a precarious state from the time they are born—their obsessions, feelings, loneliness, desires and anxiety, for which there is no salvation but through love. It is a story about the tragedy of passing, fear of annihilation and destruction.”
All of the pictures used in the photomontages were taken by Rydet. They include images of the Roman ruins at Sabratha and Leptis Magna, which she toured and photographed during a visit to Libya in 1976.
The images of ruins are an echo of wartime reminiscences and fears associated with new global catastrophes, but also a depiction of destroyed social relations. In her works, in line with the title of the overall series, Rydet is guided by feelings and imagination, and the emotional character of the works she created maintains their relevance.
The presentation consists exclusively of vintage prints selected directly from the artist’s archive.
In recent years, Zofia Rydet’s works have been shown at such venues as the 13th Gwangju Biennale in Korea (2021), the Wende Museum in Culver City, California (2019), the Jeu de Paume at Château de Tours, France (2017), the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (2016), and XII Baltic Triennial at CAC Vilnius (2015). Her works are found in numerous museum collections, including MoMA in New York, the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
World of Feelings and Imagination. Obsessions, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 59,5 × 49 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Birth, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 30 × 40 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Birth, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 23,8 × 18,2 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Birth, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 27,8 × 26,1 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Motherhood, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 40 × 30 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Motherhood, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 18,3 × 24 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination cycle. Motherhood, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 17,8 × 24,2 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Motherhood, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 27 × 20,3 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Threat, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 49,5 × 39,6 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Threat, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 81 × 58 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Threat, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 81 × 63,5 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Threat, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 81,5 × 62 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Manequins, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 40 × 29,5 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Phantoms, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 35,6 × 29,9 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Phantoms, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 28,2 × 23,9 [28,2 × 21,8] cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Phantoms, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 23,8 × 17,4 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Phantoms, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 23,9 × 16,6 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Phantoms, 1975-1979, gelatin silver print, 24 × 18,1 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Leavings, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 36,5 × 29,7 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination cycle. Leavings, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 24 × 18,5 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Leavings, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 24 × 18,2 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Leavings, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 27,1 × 19 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Leavings, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 23,8 × 18 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Landscapes, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 23 × 18 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Landscapes, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 18 × 23,7 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Landscapes, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 24 × 18,1 cm
World of Feelings and Imagination. Landscapes, 1975–1979, gelatin silver print, 29,8 × 23,8 cm