It is 35 years since Pałac Sztuki (Palace of Art) hosted an exhibition of Franciszek Bunsch's prints for the first and only time. This happened a year after he took over the studio of wood engraving at the Department of Graphic Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow following Profesor Ludwik Gardowski's retirement.
   Before Franciszek Bunsch became a full-fledged artist he completed his studies of graphic art under the guidance of Prof. Eugeniusz Eibisch, Prof. Konrad Srzednicki and Prof. Ludwik Gardowski (whose assistant he became in 1952) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow. Then, he underwent two-year training at the Akademie Výtvarných Uméni in Prague.
   Since 1951 he has taken part in 15 international art exhibitions in different countries including Japan, Australia, Holland, Spain, Canada, the Soviet Union, Switzerland and Poland. In 1990 Franciszek Bunsch was conferred on the title of full professor. He held the post of the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow for two terms of office in the years 1972-1975 and 1984-1987.
   Franciszek Bunsch's works were presented at his 22 individual exhibitions in the country and abroad. He also took many journeys around Europe both as a holder of scholarships and an independent tourist. He received 12 prizes and awards in all. He won his first prize in 1951 and the most recent one at the International Print Biennial Cuprum VIII in Lubin 1999.
   I have known Prof. Franciszek Bunsch's name and artistic standing from the early 1980s. At that time I used to visit Prof. Jacek Gaj, my friend of many years, and enjoy long talks with him at his studio in Lenartowicza Street. I finally met Prof. Bunsch only in the second half of the year 2000. We took part, as members-founders, in the gatherings of the Founding Committee of the Society of the Friends of Fine Arts in Cracow, the last of which was held on 20 November 2000. I remember how Professor Bunsch was always well-prepared for our discussions, and how impressed I was with his precision, inquiring disposition, and consistency but also his readiness for compromise, elegance of arguments and gentlemanliness. Meetings and talks with Prof. Bunsch belong to memorable experiences.
   During one of the initial gatherings at the Senate Hall at the Academy of Fine Arts I suggested that we prepare a retrospective exhibition of Franciszek Bunsch's works at Pałac Sztuki (Palace of Art) at the outset of the third millennium and on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Palace in May 2001. He agreed willingly and a few days later we discussed in details the date and the scope of the project.
   Today on 11 May, 2001 at 1:30 p.m. an exhibition of Prof. Franciszek Bunsch's prints was opened. And although four other exhibitions are scheduled to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pałac Sztuki (Palace of Art), today's show is the only one personally attended by the author of the displayed prints, an outstanding artist whose works are in the museum collections in the country and abroad. In the name of the Society of the Friends of Fine Arts I would like to thank Professor Bunsch for honouring the occasion of our jubilee by his participation. I wish this distinguished representative of the Bunsch artistic clan further artistic achievements, health and the best of luck.

                                                                                                                                           Zbigniew Kazimierz Witek