The Code of Ethics of Konstanty A. Jeleński — the Art Critic and Politician

Abstract

Konstanty Aleksander Jeleński used to appear as a “smooth man about town” and bon vivant, a cosmopolitan with bisexual tendencies, which is why he is reminded of his scandalous relationship with Leonor Fini and Stanislo Lepri. His atheism is also eagerly emphasized. In the past, the PRL (Polish People’s Republic) authorities presented the emigrant author as a CIA agent.
However, Jeleński was primarily a writer. Reading his scattered and multilingual heritage makes the reader aware of the existence of a “cultural-archetypal” foundation in his work. The axiological paradigm can be extracted from Jeleński’s essay writing. A code of ethics inscribed in his work, is important, if not the most important, aspect of identity — personal, linguistic and national. Jeleński’s essayistic reflection revolves around values. The writer refers to loyalty, truth, responsibility and freedom.
In addition to writing practice, the life choices of the author of “Coincidences” (involvement in the activities of the Congress of Freedom of Culture, promotion of Polish artists in Europe, and finally presentation of the political situation in Poland and the Eastern Bloc countries to the reader, especially the French one), seem to confirm the importance of the code. It is based on the stable identity of the writer involved in the life of the community he comes from.