The kickoff of the exhibition of images from before 130 years

On June 22 this year in Władysław Syrokomli Museum in Borejkowszczyźna within the framework of ‘Kawiarenka Literacka’ (‘Literary Café’) took place the kickoff of the exhibition of images from before 130 years brought forth by the Eliza Orzeszkowa Bookstore. On the exhibition are presented 10 images depicting nail-biting panoramas and the most beautiful sights of Vilnius: Church of St Philip and St James (pl. Kościół św. Jakuba i Filipa w Wilnie), Zamkova Hora (pl. Góra Zamkowa), Belmontas (pl. Belmont), Zwierzyniec, Popławy, Żelazna Chatka.

Guests present at the enterprise were acquainted with the exhibition by the initiator of the event, literary historian and poet Józef Szostakowski. According to the ‘guide’, in 1979-1881 the writer had her own reading room and bookstore near Świętojańska Street in Vilnius, where she was selling images of Vilnius taken by a famous photographer Józef Czechowicz in order to make Vilnius more popular. The government closed the bookstore because it was spreading the Polish spirit and the writer had to move to Groden for a few years. This exhibition gives an opportunity to observe Eliza Orzeszkowa not only as a writer but also as a big patriot. Józef Szostakowski admitted that it is not known who the author of the images is but there are for sure some taken by Józef Czechowicz. On the back side of the images there is an inscription ‘Wydawnictwo E. Orzeszkowej I S-ki w Wilnie’(‘Publisher E. Orzeszkowa and S-ki in Vilnius’).

During the opening of the exhibition guests had the opportunity to listen to some musical works in the performance of Edita Balčiūnaitė, acquaint with works of young Vilnius poet Tomas Tamošiūnas. The meeting was a chance for discussion, joint singing and spending time in an interesting way in a pretty company.