17th May – 2nd November
The Gallery of Art in Koziniec
(branch of the Tatra Museum)
Zakopane, Droga na Koziniec 8
This exhibition is an attempt to sketch a picture of childhood in the traditional culture of the rural Polish Tatras from the late nineteenth century to the first years after the Second World War. It is often an uneasy image of childhood, marked by poverty - but not devoid of warmth, joyful experiences and dreams. Regardless of the individual features and unique history, childhood determined the nature of the traditional family. The environment of this region influenced this, specifying the type of economic activities and the particularly difficult living conditions.
Multigenerational and patriarchal rural families, all walks of life were subordinated in order to maintain the farm. It was usually the basis for the existence of the family, and its size determined the social position and quality of life. Running a household was related to work on the land, care of the house, farm and livestock, as well as the need to perform a number of non-farming activities. This multitude of tasks required good organization of work, the strict division of tasks and the cooperation of all family members, including children.
The head of the family was the father, who performed the most important work and also held the greatest power. The mother ruled the household. She was responsible for its smooth functioning. The position of children, due to their limited usefulness on the farm, was at first the lowest. Their value only grew with their age and physical abilities. A child’s position was reflected by, among others, their allocated space in the household, food and clothing.
The caring role of busy parents was usually limited to ensuring that their child got enough food and clothing. Child care was most often entrusted to the grandparents or older offspring. Even a child of several years already had experience of working. Slowly but surely, work was incorporated into adolescence and was an important element of their education. The work to prepare them for their future roles as hostess and host at the same time deprived them of their childhood. Children, burdened with many responsibilities were often overtired. Playtime usually took place in short breaks between tasks. Participation in domestic and commercial work limited, and sometimes brought to an end a child’s possibility of academic learning. Parents of children demanded absolute obedience. They strongly enforced the compliance of the responsibilities entrusted to them, and any failure was severely punished.
Free time was found on public holidays and in winter when smaller numbers of classes allowed for gatherings, singing, listening to stories. The latter for the children was a way of gaining knowledge about life. Respite, though located on the margins of daily life, allowed children to establish warmer, closer and more casual relationship with their parents.
The way childhood is presented here is not complete, it refers only to certain aspects of the youngest residents of the Tatra region. Due to the method of its presentation - a museum exhibition – it requires simplification. We hope, however, that despite this it will provide you with many emotions, it will evoke memories and a better understanding of the past and encourage you to reflect on the present.
