Puchalszczyzna, or the Creativeness of Włodzimierz Puchalski. Part One. Living with Passion (e-book in Polish)

Publisher: ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK, Żubrowa Street 10, 17-230 Białowieża

Monograph concept and text: Jan Walencik

Authors of photographs (in PART I): Tadeusz Chrzanowski, Janusz Czecz, Leszek Dziedzic, J. Henner, A. Jaderny, Edward Janusz, Bronisław Ferens, Krištof Jacek Kozak, MARIA (Lw.w), Paweł Lang, D. Mazur, Wojciech Plewiński, Alana Puchalska, Izabela Puchalska, Roman Puchalski, Władysław Puchalski, Włodzimierz Puchalski, Władysław Stankowski, Antoni Sykora, Roman Jacek Sykora, E. Trzemeski, Bożena Walencik, Jan Walencik, Ryszard Wyrzykowski oraz N.N.

Photograph on front cover and title page: Wojciech Plewiński

Sources of illustrations (in PART I) – collections from: Main Archives of Historical Records, Central Military Archive, Institute of National Memory, Leszek Dziedzic, Jolanta Gróo-Kozak, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS (H. Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station), The Niepołomice Museum, Museum of Sport and Tourism in Warsaw, Zofia Nowak-Lorenz and Marian Cybruch, State Archive of the Zhytomyr Region (Nowina Genealogy and Heraldry Bureau), Paweł Lang, Wojciech Plewiński, Polona (National Library), Anna Puchalska-Żelewska, Radom Digital Library, Jan Walencik, Wikipedia, Free encyclopedia, Educational Film Studio

Editorial work on the monograph and arrangement and selection of iconography: Jan Walencik

Preparation of captions, annexes, bibliographies and indexes: Jan Walencik

Editing and restoration of photographs: Jan Walencik

Graphic and typographic design, typesetting and page layout: Jan Walencik

Iconography scanning, initial photography retouching, index verification, production cooperation: Krzysztof Komar

Proofreading: Krzysztof Komar, Bożena Walencik, Marta Kołodziej-Sobocińska, Wojciech Sobociński

© Jan Walencik 2022

© ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this two-part publication, or its entirety, may be reproduced, stored as a data source, and transferred or transmitted in any form of recording without the written permission of the copyright owner.

For each .pdf file of this book, a non-exclusive and non-transferable license is granted to use the e-book. The Reader-Licensee does not purchase a specific copy, but a license to read the content using his own equipment.

In order to protect copyrights, each shared file – as intellectual property subject to legal protection – is marked with a visible and hidden watermark containing individual data of the Reader-Licensee, as well as is properly encrypted and protected against modification, copying and printing.

Edition 1 2022 (e-book)

Okładka e-booka. Napis: JAN WALENCIK/PUCHALSZCZYZNA/CZĘŚĆ PIERWSZA. ŻYCIE Z PASJĄ. Fotografia Włodzimierza Puchalskiego…

The promotional cover of the e-book – the first part of Jan Walencik’s monograph Puchalszczyzna. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2020.

Puchalszczyzna, or the Creativeness of Włodzimierz Puchalski. Part One. Living with Passion 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PUBLISHER’S EDITORIAL COMMENTS ON PART ONE 9
FROM THE AUTHOR 11
CORMORANTS ISLAND 15

CHAPTER I. BIRTH OF A PASSION:
right from the cradle, the child carries a kind of marking 19

VERY OLD TIMES: THE ANCESTORS 19
CALENDARIUM: 1761–1907 33
1909 (THE BIRTH OF WŁODZIMIERZ) 49
1910 (1 YEAR OLD) 54
(…)
1932 (23 YEARS OF AGE) 103

CHAPTER II. SUCCESSES AND FAME:
I stubbornly stand by my passion and am adamant 107

1932 (23 YEARS OF AGE) 107
1933 (24 YEARS OF AGE) 114
1934 (25 YEARS OF AGE) 123
1935 (26 YEARS OF AGE) 131
1936 (27 YEARS OF AGE) 139
1937 (28 YEARS OF AGE) 146
1938 (29 YEARS OF AGE) 164
1939 (30 YEARS OF AGE) 195

CHAPTER III. THE DARKNESS OF WAR:
loss of everything but passion and undying fervor 217

1939–1945 (30–36 YEARS OF AGE) 217

CHAPTER IV. HOPE OF REVIVAL:
a hundredfold stronger passion came over me again 245

1945 (36 YEARS OF AGE) 245
1946 (37 YEARS OF AGE) 257
1947 (38 YEARS OF AGE) 262
1948 (39 YEARS OF AGE) 271
1949 (40 YEARS OF AGE) 284

CHAPTER V. OBSTACLES IN THE WAY:
the efforts of five years have been trampled, muddied 299

1949 (40 YEARS OF AGE) 299
1950 (41 YEARS OF AGE) 299
1951 (42 YEARS OF AGE) 309
1952 (43 YEARS OF AGE) 314
1953 (44 YEARS OF AGE) 319
1954 (45 YEARS OF AGE) 325
1955 (46 YEARS OF AGE) 334
1956 (47 YEARS OF AGE) 344

CHAPTER VI. THE WANTED ARCTIC:
a great expedition, but an even greater adventure 353

1957 (48 YEARS OF AGE) 353
1958 (49 YEARS OF AGE) 385
1959 (50 YEARS OF AGE) 406
1960 (51 YEARS OF AGE) 413

CHAPTER VII. STILL ON THE RUN:
a nature film in our conditions is more of a hobby than a profession 415

1960 (51 YEARS OF AGE) 415
(…)
1974 (65 YEARS OF AGE) 530

CHAPTER VIII. RECOGNITION:
time was lost in a great passion for nature 541

1974 (65 YEARS OF AGE) 541
1975 (66 YEARS OF AGE) 541
1976 (67 YEARS OF AGE) 553
1977 (68 YEARS OF AGE) 561
1978 (69 YEARS OF AGE) 572

CHAPTER IX. AN ANTARCTIC DREAM:
my biggest dream will come true 583

1978 (69 YEARS OF AGE) 583
1979 (ALMOST 70 YEARS OF AGE) 597
AFTER JANUARY 19, 1979 603

CHAPTER X. A MAN OF FLESH AND BLOOD:
the fullness of freedom and the joy of life omnipotently lasting 607

VIS VITALIS 607

1. ENTHUSIASM OF LIFE 607

A. AROUND A PASSION 610
B. FULFILLING THE MISSION 611

C. PASSION FOR ANIMALS 613

2. STRONG CHARACTER 615

A. THE POWER OF BODY AND SPIRIT 615
B. DEUTERANOPY (DALTONISM) 618

BLOODLESS OR BLOODY HUNTER 619

1. BURDEN 620

A. BLOODY INSTINCT 620
B. ATTITUDE TO HUNTING AND HUNTERS 622

2. INNER VOICE 626

A. PRAISE OF LIFE 627

THE INDIVIDUALIST AMONG PEOPLE 628

1. PERSONALITY FROM THE EASTERN BORDERLANDS 628

A. CORDIAL LVIVIAN 628
B. DISTRUSTFUL AND OPEN 630
C. MORUSY VILLAGE 632
D. DAILY LIFE TO THE RHYTHM OF NATURE 634

2. ATTITUDE TO CREATIVE WORK 636

A. AMBITIOUS AND HARD WORKING 636
B. NEED FOR SUCCESS 638

3. VALUE SYSTEM 639

A. FEELING OF DIGNITY AND JUSTICE 639
B. FAITH 640
C. A TRADITIONALIST AFTER HARD EXPERIENCES 641
D. SEPARATE 642

4. TEMPERAMENT 642

A. EXCITABLE, IMPETUOUS 643
B. ORGANIZED 644
C. DESIRE FOR FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE 645
D. STAY-AT-HOME 650
E. SENSE OF HUMOR 653
F. HABITS AND CUSTOMS 654

5. GRAPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS 660

A ANNEX 1. AN ABRIDGED BIOGRAPHY OF WŁODZIMIERZ PUCHALSKI 663
ANNEX 2. MAJOR DISTINCTIONS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS OF WŁODZIMIERZ PUCHALSKI 671
BIBLIOGRAPHY (PART ONE) 673
INDEX OF PERSONS (PART ONE) 687
INDEX OF GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES (PART ONE) 695
INDEX OF NAMES OF PHOTO-FILM MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT (PART ONE) 703

The trailer for the monograph (e-book): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. Created by Jan Walencik. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK  2022.
NOTE: turn on the English subtitles at YouTube!

EXCERPTS FROM THE MONOGRAPH

I would be happy to be born again. Anyway, it doesn’t matter the birth. It’s more about childhood, those carefree, idyllic, angelic years in which you don’t have to worry about anything, because that’s what father is for and mother. Right from the cradle, the child carries a kind of marking, a kind of spark that often goes out and sometimes, well blown, flares up and transforms into a lifelong passion.

P. 53, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 68-69, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 90-91, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 152, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

What could be more wonderful for a naturalist than the possibility of capturing the secrets of nature, so carefully hidden? The Leica is becoming my inseparable companion. I stubbornly stand by my passion and am adamant in the idea of bloodless hunting.

P. 158-159, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 175, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 204-205, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 268-269, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

In 1949, at an open artists’ congress in Wisła, it was decided to proclaim Puchalski as the most dangerous formalist. My four films have been destroyed, gone forever. This is how I „proudly” ended the stage of creative work in reborn Poland. Again, the efforts of five years have been trampled, muddied – this time not with the forged boots of the attacking occupier, but with the boots bearing the mighty body of bottomless, malicious, vile stupidity, in a shackled head.

P. 288, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 309, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 328, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 368-369, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

I have the impression that a person is already born with some kind of destiny, some kind of special spark, which is later blown up, developed to the point that I have reached at the moment, that I live in connection with nature, I make films, I take photographs, I write books, I have broadcasts. I’m simply body and soul committed to nature. It’s not 50, but probably barely 5, 10 years of work, because time was lost in a great passion for nature.

P. 370, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 453, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 462, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 464-465, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

I am happy, my biggest dream will come true, I will be in the dream Antarctica. I will make my last film there. Making movies is very hard work. I still have so many things to sort out in photography, so many albums to release…  I don’t want to die in bed, it’s not meant for me.

P. 542-543, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 586-587, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 598, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

P. 613, excerpt from the monograph (in Polish): Jan Walencik. Puchalszczyzna. Part One. Living with Passion. © ŻUBROWA 10 JAN WALENCIK 2022.

ATTENTION!

A PACKAGE FOR MEDIA with promotional materials of two Puchalszczyzna e-books (presentation, descriptions, tables of contents, excerpts of texts, selected illustrations, author’s CV, links – in Polish) I send at the request of a particular Editorial/Website. Similarly, a very limited number of CMYK illustrations are available upon request for printed publications. If you are interested, please send a message regarding this matter via the contact panel at the bottom of the HOME page.

I strongly encourage interested parties to use the content attached to the PACKAGE in media publications, but only in those that will be dedicated to the subject of the Puchalszczyzna monograph.

Both Puchalszczyna e-books in .pdf format, with a license for personal use of the Buyer, can be purchased immediately in our STORE (only in Poland now). 

NOTICE!

For important organisational and creative reasons, I have decided to close my online shop https://sklep.zubrowa10.pl/.

This also means that on the same day the sale of my two e-books entitled PUCHALSZCZYZNA, i.e. a monograph on the life and work of Włodzimierz Puchalski, the pioneer of Polish nature photography and Polish nature film, will end.

I will inform about the further fate of PUCHALSZCZYZNA – on https://zubrowa10.pl/blog-z-mojej-perspektywy/ and on https://www.facebook.com/janwalencik.zzapartymtchem/ – perhaps in the near future, as relevant news for it appear.