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Slavic and East European Collections: Exhibitions

The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures

The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures presents a selection of remarkable artifacts from our vast collection of 56 million items, inspiring visitors to explore, learn, and generate new knowledge both now and in the future. Launched in 2021, the exhibition is organized into nine distinct sections: Beginnings, Performance, Explorations, Fortitude, The Written Word, The Visual World, Childhood, Belief, and New York City. Over time, the exhibited items are rotated to ensure proper preservation and to offer patrons the chance to view additional pieces. All items featured in the exhibition are listed on its dedicated website.

The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures has showcased a wide array of treasures, including items by or related to Slavic and East European individuals.

  1. Tutu worn by Alexandra Danilova (1903–1997) Tulle, velvet, and sequins, 1940s.Vibrant illustration of a man in a bright green tunic
  2. Tutu worn by Alexandra Danilova (1903–1997) Tulle, velvet, and sequins, ca. 1940s
  3. Sergei Eisenstein (1898–1948) Portrait of Sergei Diaghilev Ink and pencil, 1937
  4. Evangelie naprestol’noe (1791). See also: Bogdan Horbal, "Catherine II’s Altar Gospel Graces the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures."
  5. Natalia Goncharova (1881–1962) Costume design for Les Noces (The Wedding) Watercolor and pencil, 1923
  6. Natalia Goncharova (1881–1962) Costume design for Liturgie Gouache and metallic paint, 1915.
  7. Jacques Hnizdovsky (1915–1985), artist. “Man Reading,” or “Man Liberated by Books.” Oil on canvas, 1961.
  8. Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) Klänge (Sounds) Munich: R. Piper & Co. Verlag, 1913.
  9. Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) Poster for the Thêàtre de la Renaissance production of Lorenzaccio 1896.
  10. Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) Poster for the Thêàtre Sarah Bernhardt production of Tragique histoire d’Hamlet, prince de Danemark, Sarah Bernhardt 1899
  11. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1832–1898), author; Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977), translator; Sergei A. Zalshupin (1898–1931), illustrator; Ania v strane chudes (1923). See also: Bogdan Horbal, "Before Lolita There Was Alice (Ania)."
  12. Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977). Pages from a scrapbook containing hand-drawn diagrams and manuscript notes ca. 1946.
  13. Saul Steinberg (1914–1999) Bleecker and MacDougal Feb. 1523, Ink and pencil, ca. 1980–1985
  14. Sketchbook belonging to Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) ca. 1917.
  15. Okhrim Ivanovych Sudomora (1889-1968), illustrator. Bim-bom dzelen’-bom! (1949). See also: Emil Allakhverdov, "Mysterious Book Illustrator Okhrim Sudomora."
  16. Andy Warhol (1928–1987). Oil painting of Studio 54 ticket inscribed on reverse “To Truman [Capote] Love Andy”, 1978. See also: Bogdan Horbal, "Andy Warhol's Ethnicity and the Other Warhol Exhibition."