Collection: Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska

Maria Janina Teresa Kossak, daughter of the painter Wojciech Kossak (son of Juliusz) and Maria née Kisielnicka, was born on November 24, 1891 in Kraków. Her older brother, Jerzy Kossak, was a painter, and her younger sister, Magdalena, known as Magdalena Samozwaniec, wrote satirical works. Pawlikowska made her debut with a collection of poems Blue almonds in 1922. In 1929 it was published Paris and the Morning Glory Ballet in 1935

The poet traveled a lot, which can be seen in her work. She spent time in Italy, Turkey, North Africa and France, among other places. On June 19, 1931, in Poznań, she married Stefan Jasnorzewski, an air force officer.

In September 1939 she left for France and later for England. She and her husband settled in Blackpool, at the RAF air base. The poet fell ill with cancer, the tumour metastasised very quickly, the spine being the most affected. Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska underwent two operations. She died in a hospital in Manchester on 9 July 1945 and was buried there in the Southern Cemetery. After the war, Stefan Jasnorzewski completely abandoned aviation and broke off contact with friends and family for about five years.

Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska was friends with many artists, especially from the Skamander circle, with Witkacy and with the Formists (Leon Chwistek and Andrzej Pronaszko). In the memoirs of many artistic personalities of the time she was described as a polite, charming person.