Museum of Caricature in Warsaw

The only museum of caricature in Europe is located in the Polish capital. The institution presents numerous interesting exhibits, including historical documents, canvases and photographs depicting Polish and foreign authors. Everything is done with a satirical theme. The museum can be found on Kozya Street.

Historical Info

Museum of Caricature is also known as the Museum of Art. It was founded in 1978. Initially it was a branch of the renowned Literary Museum. It was initiated by Erik Lipiński, which is why the museum is named after him. Erik Lipiński is a Polish journalist, graphic artist and scenographer.

Lipiński has long been nurturing the idea of such a centre. Back in the 1960s, he proposed that the institution should be set up as a branch of the National Gallery, after which it all came together at Literaturny. Erik became its first director, holding the post of honorary director from 1978 to 1991.

The first collection was assembled by Lipiński himself. He collected it in parallel to setting up the museum. The exhibition included items from the journalist’s private collection, which he found and purchased himself, as well as receiving as gifts. Part of the funds for the purchase of works of art were provided to Eric by his friends.

Initial exhibitions were held at the gallery in Špilki. In 1983, the museum moved to the building that once served as a greenhouse of the Primate’s Palace. It is located on Kozya Street. Lipiński and his associates were actively involved in obtaining funds for renovation of the historical building.

Officially the first exhibition of the Museum of Caricature was held in October 1983. As soon as the Museum opened in its new location, it lost its branch status and became a fully-fledged institution in its own right. It is financed from the state budget.

About the museum exhibits

The core of the current museum is a collection of works by William Hogarth. The painter and graphic artist worked in the 18th century. It is believed that modern caricature and the art of satirical engravings originated with Hogarth. William was dedicated to eradicating vice and establishing morality in people.

The appeal of this type of work is that it combines caustic mockery with topicality. If the work was topical at the time, it remains so today. Proof of this are also the works of the Frenchman Honoré Daumier, the famous graphic artist of the nineteenth century. He preferred to poke fun at the political aspects of the period in his work.

Works by the pro-American graphic artist Jean Effel can also be seen in the museum. Works by Henryk Savka, Jerzy Zarub, Roland Topor and many others are present. The museum’s pride and joy is the collection of Pole Daniel Chodowiecki. The works date back to the 18th century.