Muzeum Narodowe w Lublinie

Department of Polish Medieval History and Economic History
Institute of History
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (UMCS)

Lublin Museum

An Undiscovered Woman- from Antiquity to Modern Era

the academic conference
22-23 September 2016

Exhibition
September-October 2016

Conference venue Faculty of Humanities UMCS
Plac Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej 4a

The research on the place, meaning and manner of perceiving women who lived in the past has for quite a long time been within the sphere of historians’ interests, the expression of which is the increasing number of publication on that particular subject. However, so far the scholarly focus has been placed primarily on women from the privileged social strata and communities. Numerous discussions were therefore dedicated to the historical figures of queens, female representatives of aristocratic families or rich middle classes, who were then usually presented through the prism of their social roles or professions, typical for the given historical period and cultural circles.
Female images captured on the photographs from the past are in many respects remarkable documents. Portraits made in photography studios are usually very serious. The stylised poses captured on camera are the same, regardless of the age of models. The only changes, taking place in accordance with fashion of a given period, occur in clothing and hairstyle. On the other hand, situational photographs are different in nature. They are a record of life of the city and countryside as well as of the daily activities performed by women. Photographs from family albums also have an extraordinary value. They immortalise the emotional moments accompanying various stages of life. All of the above-mentioned types of photographs are invariably combined by the figure of a female character, an unknown woman.

Text: dr Anna Obara-Pawłowska (UMSC), Małgorzata Surmacz (Lublin Museum)
Translation: Anna Miączewska (UMCS)
Designed by: Sebastian Górski, Janusz Stasiak (Lublin Museum)
Edited by: Magdalena Janik, Ewa Kuszyk-Peciak (Lublin Museum)

Women - January Uprising	Women - Marriage	Women - Motherhood	Women -  Folk costumes	Women - Folk customs (rites)	Women - World War I
Women -Trading	Women - Literature	Women - Sport	Women - Education (learning)	Women - School	Women - World War II