Titled Sign of Victory: Images of the White Eagle, the exhibition at Poznań's Museum of Applied Arts opened on Thursday and runs until February 8.
The display, curated by Renata Sobczak-Jaskulska and Michał Błaszczyński, marks the 730th anniversary of the coronation of King Przemysł II.
That historic moment in 1295 also saw the White Eagle adopted as the symbol of his kingdom, laying the foundation for Poland’s national coat of arms.
Visitors can view a wide array of objects bearing the eagle motif, including medals, banners, coins, decorations and historic posters.
Many are integrated into the museum’s permanent Sala Przemysła exhibition, which examines the origins and transformations of the Polish national emblem.
Highlights include a replica of the only surviving majestic seal of King Przemysł II, with the king seated on the obverse and the White Eagle on the reverse, originally attached to a 1295 document.
The exhibition also explores how the eagle evolved across centuries, appearing on items ranging from 19th-century jewellery to interwar patriotic art.
"After the January Uprising and up to World War I, the eagle was often used in decorative forms – brooches, rings, even sugar bowls – carrying quiet but powerful patriotic symbolism," said Sobczak-Jaskulska.
She added that the eagle’s artistic interpretations in the interwar years are especially compelling.
"If one assumes that artists no longer engaged with patriotic themes during that time, that’s simply untrue," she said. "Just look at the commemorative medals from the 1929 General National Exhibition – each with a uniquely styled eagle. These are powerful works of patriotic art and remarkable pieces in their own right."
Following restoration of Poland’s independence in 1918, the White Eagle took on a renewed official role, appearing on coins, flags and state insignia.
It also continued to resonate in civic life as a symbol of modern patriotism.
"Every depiction of the eagle reflects the era in which it was created," said Sobczak-Jaskulska. "The styles changed, but the majesty of the emblem endured."
The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of lectures and curator-led tours.
(rt/gs)
Source: dzieje.pl