Lovely, Human, True, Heartfelt – The Letters of Alina Szapocznikow and Ryszard Stanislawski, 1948–1971

Although she is only now just coming into much-deserved global renown, the Polish sculptor Alina Szapocznikow has long been recognized in her country as one of the most accomplished female artists of the twentieth century. Collected in this volume for the first time are Szapocznikow's letters to and from the art critic and former director of the Lodz Museum of Art Ryszard Stanislawski, which span from the inception of their relationship through their marriage and divorce. "Lovely, Human, True, Heartfelt" documents Szapocznikow's artistic process and inspirations and is a rare window through which to view the complex internal life of Szapocznikow as an artist, Holocaust survivor, and woman. For art historians and enthusiasts, this correspondence offers an important context for understanding Szapocznikow's often enigmatic work and is a fascinating look at the recovery of the artistic community in Europe after World War II. The volume includes comprehensive notes on the political and artistic climate surrounding each letter, as well as providing biographical information that creates an even more nuanced portrait of the two writers. More than simply a historical resource, "Lovely, Human, True, Heartfelt" offers readers an intimate epistolary romance written with deep passion and remarkable literary flair.