Jan Marcin Szancer (12 November 1902 – 21 March 1973) Female portrait. Signed and dated. 35 x 26 cm Ink on paper ca. 1950's-1960's. PROVENANCE: - From the workshop (atelier) of the artist. - From the descendants or heirs of the artist. - Monographic sale "Vente de l'atelier de Jan Marcin Szancer, graphiste et illustrateur polonais." Clertan & Bossillier, coimissaires priseures, Beziers, France. DESCRIPTION: Generations of children have grown up reading books illustrated by Jan Marcin Szancer. Among the approximately 200 books to his credit are Henryk Sienkiewicz’s "Trilogy", Adam Mickiewicz’s "Pan Tadeusz", and Jan Brzechwa’s "Pan Kleks". During the Second World War, Szancer designed propaganda posters for the Home Army. He created his most colorful illustrations during the darkest periods of his life. Jan Marcin Szancer Szancer was born into a Jewish family in 1902 in Krakow, graduated from the local Academy of Fine Arts, and as a professor at the Department of Graphic Design, he trained many talented successors. He was the artistic director of "Świerszczyk" from the first issue (and then he performed the same function in the starting Polish Television), he illustrated dozens of fairy tales and books (not only) for children . He also created costumes and scenography, tried his hand at film as a screenwriter, director and even an actor. Many know his name from childhood, and many of those who don't know him certainly know his drawings... Jan Marcin Szancer, is one of Poland’s greatest book illustrators: https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/picture-perfect-new-exhibition-explores-the-life-and-work-and-jan-marcin-szancer-one-of-polands-greatest-book-illustrators-13207