%0 Journal Article
%T “Wrocław, that pitiful city of art.” An announcement on the upcoming publication of the Chronicle by Joseph Langer (1865–1918)
%A Organisty, Adam
%J Modus. Prace z historii sztuki
%V Ealy View 2024
%N Tom 24


%@ 1641-9715
%U https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/modus-prace-z-historii-sztuki/artykul/wroclaw-that-pitiful-city-of-art-an-announcement-on-the-upcoming-publication-of-the-chronicle-by-joseph-langer-1865-1918
%X The Chronicle by Joseph Langer (1865–1918), a painter, noted conservator, and collector from Ziębice in Lower Silesia, was officially made available to the local authorities of this city in the form of photographic documentation in 2019. When I was writing my doctoral dissertation on Langer, which was reviewed by Professor Marek Zgórniak, the existence of the Chronicle was known, but efforts to locate the document were unsuccessful at that time. Today, the Chronicle not only provides insight into Langer’s “life and work” but reveals his personality as well. Written by the artist from 1895 until his death, it also covers earlier years. This report announces the existence of this valuable document and analyses the stylistic form of the text in the context of other similar written accounts. The Chronicle allows us to discover previously unknown sites of Langer’s works. It provides information on the terms of contracts between him and his clients, painting techniques and stages of his work, and the relationships within the Silesian artistic community, including the Royal School of Arts and Crafts in Wrocław. From reading the Chronicle, a picture emerges of a hardworking man suffering from depression, who had to cope with the behavioural norms prevalent in Wilhelmine society.