About the violin and its music in the poem to „a forgotten artist” - To Nikodem Biernacki

Abstract

The present article points to the function that the motif of the violin performs in the poem To Nikodem Biernacki written by Norwid in Paris in 1857; it also contains an interpretation of the author’s remarks on an artist’s identity and of the tasks assigned to him that are expressed in that poetical text. Also, Norwid’s views on the meaning of what a violinist does and of art in general are shown. Knowledge of the life and work of the addressee of the poem, the Polish 19th century violinist Nikodem Biernacki, defined as a “forgotten musician”, is the context for the analysis of the poem. This knowledge also casts some light on history of Polish culture persecuted in the period of the Partitions of Poland. Also the contents of Norwid’s other works, among them of Chopin’s Piano, Promethidion and Historical Resurrection are an important context for the discussions included in the article. The poet’s thoughts contained in To Nikodem Biernacki are inscribed in the whole of Norwid’s philosophy of art.