Autochromy Stanisław Krygowski | Inauguration of the research project

We invite you to a seminar dedicated to the collection of 191 autochromes by Stanisław Krygowski, donated to MuFo for deposit by the Central Mountain Tourism Centre PTTK. The meeting is part of Stanisław Krygowski's Autochrome project, carried out in 2026—2027. Conservation, digitization, dissemination”.

During the seminar, invited researchers and specialists will look at Stanisław Krygowski's collection of autochromes from different, mutually complementary perspectives. Jerzy Kapłon (Central Mountain Tourism Centre PTTK) will present the history of the Tatra Society in the years 1873—1918, creating a context for Krygowski's activities. Dagmara Schmidt (Dr. Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Museum in Zakopane) will present his biography, and Sebastian Kłosok (Central Mountain Library COTG PTTK) will talk about his mountain activities. Marta Miskowiec will look at Krygowski's work from the perspective of the history of photography, comparing his autochromes with the works of Tadeusz Rząca, while Zbigniew Ładygin will present the origins of color photography and the historical and technological conditions of color photography. The seminar will close with a presentation by conservationists Dominika Anuszkiewicz (MuFo) and Katarzyna Jończyk, who will present the results of the recognition of the state of conservation of 50 Krygowski autochromes, discuss the degradation processes taking place in them and the strategies adopted for conservation, restoration and preservation of the collection. The whole will be complemented by discussions, creating a space for a common view of the collection as a unique testimony to the history of photography, the development of image technology and the mountain culture of the beginning of the 20th century.

The seminar is intended not only to present the findings so far, but also to exchange knowledge between researchers representing different fields. Krygowski's collection allows you to combine the history of photography with the history of tourism, tattooing, technology and visual culture. At the same time, it is a testimony to the moment when photography began to capture the color of the surrounding world in a completely new way.

Program of the event:

9.00 — welcome guests

9.15—9.45 — Jerzy Kapłon, “Tatra Society 1873—1918”

9.45—10.15 — Dagmara Schmidt, “Stanisław Krygowski — biography”

10.15—10.45 — Sebastian Kłosok, “Mountain activity of Stanisław Krygowski”

10.45—11.15 — discussion

11.15—12.00 — break

12.00—12.30 — Marta Miskowiec, “Autochromes of Stanisław Krygowski and Tadeusz Rząca”

12.30—13.00 — Zbigniew Ładygin, “Photographing in color...”

13.30—14.00 — Dominika Anuszkiewicz, Katarzyna Jończyk, “Conservation and restoration of 50 Stanisław Krygowski autochromes from the COTG PTTK collection at MuFo — recognition of the state of conservation, assessment of degradation processes and strategies for securing the collection”

14.00—15.00 — discussion

15.00 — end of the meeting

Participants:

Jerzy Kapłon — President of the Main Board of the Polish Tourism and Sightseeing Society and Director of the Central Mountain Tourism Centre PTTK in Krakow. International Mountain Guide UIMLA, guardian of nature conservation and tourist instructor of the region. Researcher of the history of mountain tourism and tourist organizations, with particular emphasis on the activities of the Tatra Society and the Polish Tatra Society. He is the author of numerous scientific and popular science publications devoted to the history of tourist traffic and the history of Polish mountain tourism.

Dagmara Schmidt — curator of the Archives of the Tatra Museum named after Dr. Tytus Chałubiński in Zakopane. He specializes in developing and sharing archival materials documenting the history of Zakopane, Podhale and Tatras as well as the life and activities of people associated with this region.

Sebastian Kłosok — a graduate of the Faculty of Polish Studies of the Jagiellonian University, head of the Central Mountain Library of the Central Mountain Tourism Centre PTTK in Krakow and editor-in-chief of the yearbook “Wierchy”, one of the most important Polish periodicals devoted to mountain issues, continuing the tradition of the “Memoirs of the Tatra Society”. Researcher and author of publications on the history of mountain tourism, Tatarism and mountain culture. He is a Tatra guide, a taternik and a TOPR lifeguard.

Marta Miskowiec — historian of photography, curator and researcher, graduate of the Jagiellonian University. In the years 1997—2026 she was associated with the Museum of Photography in Krakow (MuFo), where she was, among others, the curator of a collection of documentary and reportage photography. Author and co-author of numerous exhibitions, research projects and publications devoted to the history of photography. Curator, among others, of the exhibitions “Autochromy by Tadeusz Rząca. Centenary of colour photography” (2008), “Photojournalists” (2017), “Osobliwe” (2017) and “Being Like Adam Karàs” (2024). Co-author of the research projects “The myth of Galicia”, “Hawaikum” and “Brothers Karas”. She lectured on the history and theory of photography, among others at the Academy of Fine Arts and the Cracow University of Technology. A special place in her work is occupied by research on documentary photography and early color photography, including autochromes. She is the author of the publication “Autochromy/Autochromes. Małopolska. Tadeusz Rzasca” (2008).

Zbigniew Ładygin — engineer, graduate of Lodz University of Technology, journalist, essayist, photographer and researcher of the history of photography. For many years he managed the publishing houses of the Tatra National Park. Curator of photographic exhibitions and author of numerous publications devoted to the history of photography, with a special focus on the photography of the Tatras and related creative environments. His research activities include the history of Tatra photography and the development of colour photography in Poland at the beginning of the 20th century and in the interwar period. His output also includes studies devoted to photographers related to the Tatras, including the works of Mieczysław Karłowicz and Władysław Werner.

Dominika Anuszkiewicz — conservator of works of art, a graduate of the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art of the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, with a specialization in the field of conservation of paintings and works of art on paper basis. As part of the Erasmus+ programme, she completed a one-year scholarship at the University of Antwerp, where she developed competences in the field of paper-based conservation of objects and specialized research methods. She gained experience at the National Museum in Wrocław, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels and the Permeke Library in Antwerp, as well as in private conservation studios. He currently works at the Museum of Photography in Krakow (MuFo), where he is engaged in conservation, documentation and technological research of photographic objects. He regularly participates in specialized trainings on modern methods of preservation and analysis of works of art, including those organized by E-RIHS and dedicated to the Modular Cleaning System and the use of hydrogels in maintenance.

Katarzyna Jończyk — conservator of works of art, graduate of the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (2016—2023), with a specialization in book preservation, graphics and antique leather. Her diploma thesis was devoted to the conservation of three photographs from the collections of the Warsaw Museum and was presented at the exhibition “Upcoming 2023. Selected Diplomas of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw”. She gained professional experience, among others, at the National Film Archive and the Polish Library in Paris, then at the National Digital Archive, the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and the Main Archive of Old Records. He currently works as a senior conservation assistant in the Paper and Leather Conservation Laboratory of the Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw. She has also collaborated with, among others, the Studio Gallery, the Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, the Foundation of Polish Modern Art and the Museum of the University of Warsaw.

Important information:

• seminar for adults

• MUFo Józefitów, ul. Józefitów 16

• Price: 10 PLN

• Number of participants: 30

• Tickets can be purchased through the online booking system: bilety.mufo.krakow.pl or by card at the ticket machine in the MuFo Józefitów branch.

Research project “Autochromes of Stanisław Krygowski. Conservation, digitization, dissemination” was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Fund for the Promotion of Culture — a state special purpose fund.