Ezra Pound

Zbigniew Libera’s drawing Ezra Pound is a compiled version of two photographic images – to the face of the old Ezra Pound from Richard Avedon’s photograph from 1958 the raised arms of Charlie Chaplin were added, from another of Avedon’s photograph, taken in New York six years before. Clenched fists touch the forehead and protruded forefingers suggest that the poet’s head has diabolic horns. On the one hand, Libera blithely plays with famous photographs showing great artists, on the other hand, however, there is a shadow suggesting true events in this seeming light-heartedness. Pound’s demonic portrait may be a reference to the controversial episode in the poet’s life during the Second World War when he was associated with the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. Thus, the seemingly amusing drawing brings forward the remembrance about matters that rather cannot be spoken of in a light tone. [A. Markowska]