Another walk on the weird side, this time with a Polish artist obsessed with the 1920s — a time when his nation stood off a Bolshevik horde in one of the under-sung epics of the 20th Century. And wild animal familiars. And giant war machines.
Jakub Rozalski is a Polish concept artist and illustrator. He is best known for his World of 1920+ series. He recently worked with Stonemaier Games to develop Scythe, one of the most successful board games ever funded on Kickstarter, along with a hardcover collection of art from the project. The 1920+ setting continues to create a buzz, with a video game slated for release in 2018.
Says Jakub:
History is my great passion and has always interested me, as well as other cultures, mythology and fantasy. In the 1920+ world, I simply mixed everything that I love the most: an alternate history of my favorite time period, the countryside, a rural atmosphere, XIX century paintings, extraordinary giant machines and wild nature and animals.
In other words, our kinda guy. I am particularly drawn to Rozalski’s pieces depicting Olga and Changa. Because every badass paramilitary gal should have a Siberian tiger…
felonious monk says
Jim I don’t know what you are on but I want half! Only yesterday I was looking
at steam punk rabbits made from watch parts and now this.
Matthew says
Does she have a samurai sword in the last picture?
JimC says
Russian Shashka.
felonious monk says
Speaking of swords here is a “mad” one (not sure if the link works): https://sofrep.com/100644/mad-jack/
Matthew says
Mad Jack Churchill had an entry in the second volume of The Deadliest Men series by Paul Kirchner. I read about him there though I had heard of him before. If someone made up Mad Jack in a novel he would have been criticized for being unbelievable.
JimC says
One of my favorite men.
Matthew says
Thanks.
deuce says
As is only fitting. The traditional sword of the Cossacks, ultimately from the badass Circassians. It’s been the saber of the Russian military since the 1800s, as I recall. Beautiful weapon.
Museum Replicas had a nice version awhile back.
Paul McNamee says
Meow?
deuce says
Goddamn, Cornelius. It’s about time! I talked him up and posted a link to his stuff here on FP over a year ago. 😛
Seriously, though, Rozalski is very talented. One of a slew of Eastern European artists who don’t go for static, photoshopped crap. Virile and vigorous.
JimC says
Ah, yes, but A Frontier Partisan never forgets…
deuce says
Well, I was at work and pondered this mystery a bit more. “Why,” says I to myself, “why,why, why, why didn’t Jim cotton to Rozalski when I brought him up THIRTEEN MONTHS AGO?”
So, I went back to that post from 2017:
https://frontierpartisans.com/5540/anarchys-cossack/
Here’s the link I provided:
https://jakubrozalski.artstation.com/
What was different between then and now? Surely great artwork featuring werewolves, steampunk mechs, VIkings and frost giants would be sufficient? It occurred to me that Jakub hadn’t posted any pics of svelte, blonde Slavic gals at that point, but I knew that couldn’t be the reason. I guess it will remain a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
JimC says
No, that couldn’t be the reason. Not at all. Nope.
Paul McNamee says
Seriously though .. interesting images and imagination. Very cool.
Dave Allen says
Looks like the tiger is her ammo carrier in the next to last pic..smart! Wish my son would meet a girl like this. We need some new blood in the family.
JimC says
Hah! Right?
Black Tyrone says
Jim you need more sleep! and less of the “creature” as the Irish say.
lane batot says
VERY good depiction of a Siberian tiger–distinctly a Siberian/Amur, rather than just any old generic tiger! I AM curious as to the story behind THAT! But hey, if Grizzly Adams could backpack train some of his grizzlies, I reckon you could do likewise with a tiger! IF you had a really close bond with one…..Speaking of which, the REAL James Capen Adams–a true, gritty, if eccentric and amazing Frontiersman if ever there was one–NOTHING like the incredibly inaccurate portrayal on that 1970’s TV series–ought to get a post one a these days on this yere blog–but no rush–just an ideer. And to me, you can never get too much of the “creature”, but we DO need SUMTHIN’ of the IRISH for Saturday!!!!!
Black Tyrone says
Do not underestimate “The Creature” which has been the bane of many of my tribe . Only I can say this as others would be accused of “INSENSITIVITY! The Irish American has incredible self esteem and laugh at the so called snowflakes and other “offendeds”.
Black Tyrone says
One more comment Jasus if I didn’t hear of a professor probably some California Lib trying to tell me I should be offended by The Fighting Irish mascot of Notre Dame. Sterotypes? Well when I heard it that morning, I dropped my glass of wiskey right onto the floor. Fredericksburg!
JimC says
I had to banish the Creature afore it ate me whole.
john roberts says
Remember, it’s properly pronounced “craytur.”
Black Tyrone says
John how Barry Fitzgerald of you! happy St Patricks Day to Partisans
JimC says
And to you Black Tyrone.
lane batot says
I apparently am unfamiliar with this particular “creature”……And I have joked in the past about how I figure, the way things are going, Scandinavian Americans will eventually raise an outcry of using Vikings for sports mascots, but if the Fighting Irish is already politically incorrect, the Vikings can’t be far behind!
JimC says
No. Just… no.
Erik Dolson says
Those of Norse stock are too busy to be concerned with mascots, what with recalling days aboard a knarr, heading to Ireland by sail and oar for a little pillage. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
And thank you for the images, Jim. My head’s always ready to turn toward a long-body Siberian.
JimC says
Hah! Indeed. They’ve got a bit o the Norse in ’em, too.
Thanks for stopping by the campfire, Erik Leadfoot.
deuce says
There needs to be a “Winged Hussars” sports team.
JimC says
Yes!
Breaker Morant says
Been gone for awhile and this is off-topic, but may I suggest for your consideration and a future post; the movie “The Lighthorsemen.”
It had been unopened on my DVD shelf for a long time and I recently watched it. I have a visceral hatred for the movie “Dunkirk” and “The Lighthorsemen” served as the perfect antidote for that.
I may take a detour over on “Smoke of Africa” to tackle that in depth. Plus we are going to Kauai and I may do some with that. Personally, I would rather go to Burkina Faso than Kauai but wife would probably apply the Female Fun Limitation Factor (FFLF)to Burkina Faso.
First visit to Hawaii, came up quickly with bonus points for farm chemicals and seed and such.
There is an odd corner of Burkina Faso that abuts Benin that is calling my name loudly.
JimC says
Yes, I’ve overlooked that movie. It’s a good un.
Enjoy your travels.
Breaker Morant says
Speaking of the “Creature”-George MacDonald Fraser in the Private McAuslin collection of short stories has a fun piece where Lt. McNeill (read GMF) is invited to visit the Sergeant’s mess and those veterans of long service in a Highland Regiment appreciated fine whiskey.
Black Tyrone says
was gifted a Quaich for piping in the haggis at a Robbie Burns dinner some years ago. sits now in the family “curio”
JimC says
Lovely. I believe my brother and his wife received a quiche for their silver anniversary, when he went to Scotland.
Victorian Sword says
I’m partial to his werewolves!
http://78.media.tumblr.com/21b0b435c70364e69c4ae15094ee0ee4/tumblr_p0ayig5kPQ1t2t2gmo1_1280.jpg
http://78.media.tumblr.com/0c3c762883ff074bd48be71c60b44ba6/tumblr_ols22oQsgr1t2t2gmo1_1280.jpg
And here is his blog which features a lot of his wonderful art:
http://jakubrozalski.tumblr.com/
Victorian Sword says
Here is one particularly fitting for Frontier Partisans!
http://78.media.tumblr.com/52306960c5bebfc5f74dec6972e7033e/tumblr_oi4ghlBx5V1t2t2gmo1_1280.jpg
“’hunt or be hunted’
new painting from my ‘Wolfpack -1863’ world, story about the last day of Aleksy, the huntsman, sent by Tsar to find out who is responsible for the attacks on Tsarist army patrols near Podwilcze village…”