Wasilewski's drawing activity is as recognisable as his posters or book graphics. The artist uses mostly a paintbrush and ink, alla prima, i.e. rapidly, with a few, precisely drawn lines. To him, drawing is an act of improvisation, although one that is preceded by many different variations which the artist never reveals to public. His drawing series showing the faces of women, each of which is drawn concisely and calligraphically, and yet perfectly reflects the figures' features and moods. Wasilewski's portraits behave like signs, ideograms of faces which always retain a striking resemblance to the model. His marks are soft, lyrical, sometimes complemented by a wash, a stain, or a decollage and often also by a dose of warm sense of humour. The artist also produces a lot of drawings documenting his everyday life and featuring his children, wife, and friends.
When enlarged, Wasilewski's drawings often turn into posters. The best example of Wasilewski's characteristic lab of ‘creative thought’ are his covers for the Problemy popular science magazine. One could observe among them some of his ideas and graphic solutions that were not yet fully disciplined by a specific thematic framework, but which later would end up as posters.
Selected solo exhibitions:
- 1973 – Regional Museum, Kalisz
- 1978 – Poster Museum, Wilanów, Warsaw
- 1989 – Galerie Hochschule für Gestaltung, Offenbach / Frankfurt (Main)
- 1993 – Pokaz Critics' Gallery, Warsaw
- 2005 – Mieczysław Wasilewski, DK Zacisze Gallery, Warsaw
- 2009 – The First Installment of the Włodek Orzeł Poster Gallery Collection, Schody Gallery, Warsaw
Author: Ewa Gorządek, Centre for Contemporary Art at Ujazdowski Castle, April 2006; update: November 2009. Transl. AM, January 2016