4 March 1935, Monday

Warsaw. Wacław Czarski writes a letter to Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz about an interview with Bruno Schulz.

In a letter, Czarski* asks Witkiewicz* to send an interview with Schulz, which is to be published in Tygodnik Ilustrowany*1. The editor writes about the interview as something discussed before: “I would be grateful if you sent me that interview with Schulz”2. The direct reason for Czarski’s request was a letter from Schulz. In the letter, written between February and March 1935, Schulz complained to Czarski about  the burdensome schoolwork, lack of time, artist’s block, as well as Witkiewicz, who stalled the article (“in a form of an interview with Witkacy”)3. Thus Czarski asks about the interview and  apologises to Witkiewicz for urging him (“do not be angry at me for pushing you so”4), because he wants to comfort Schulz as soon as he can, considering him – despite unquestionable sympathy – a “neurasthenic”, “a misfit”, and a maniac believing in some mysterious doom5. Additionally, Czarski suggests to Witkiewicz that he write an introduction to the interview, albeit a short one as he is aware of his artistic obligations. (ts) (transl. ms)

 

See also: February–March 1935*, 4 April 1935*, 28 April 1935*. 

  • 1
    Witkacy’s introduction and interview with Schulz will be published on 28 April in Tygodnik Ilustrowany, see Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, “Wywiad z Brunonem Schulzem“, Tygodnik Ilustrowany, 28 April 1935, no. 17, pp. 321–323, http://cyfrowa.chbp.chelm.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=7294&dirids=1.
  • 2
    Wacław Czarski’s letter is on the back of a letter to Witkiewicz’s wife, Jadwiga Witkiewiczowa, from 8 March 1935, see Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Listy do żony (1932–1935), edited by Anna Micińska, compiled and annotated by Janusz Degler, Warszawa 2010, p. 295.
  • 3
    See Bruno Schulz’s letter to Wacław Czarski [winter 1934/1935], [in:] Bruno Schulz, Księga listów, compiled and edited by Jerzy Ficowski, revised by Stanisław Danecki, Gdańsk 2016, p. 99.
  • 4
    Wacław Czarski’s letter…
  • 5
    Czarski’s descriptions may be partly dictated by his desire to press Witkiewicz (so that he began working on the interview as soon as possible) by making him feel sympathy for “that poor  Schulz”, See Wacław Czarski’s letter…, p. 295.