Wojciech Skrodzki, “32nd Venice Biennale,” translated from Polish by Alicja Weikop. Originally published as “XXXII Biennale w Wenecji,” in Przegląd Artystyczny 6, no. 22 (1964): 38–46 (excerpt)

This chapter presents a review of 1964 Venice Biennale which was written by Wojciech Skrodzki, art historian and critic. It is a critique of Pop art and the award of the International Prize to Rauschenberg. Skrodzki argues that this outcome and the wider success of Pop art reflected the workings of the art market and the dominance of the US rather than artistic merit. In 1895, when the local authorities in Venice launched a biannual, international exhibition of art, Italy was in the early stages of stabilization after the ended struggle for unification, and Rome, not to mention other cities, was parochial. The foundation of the Biennale was supposed to open up new possibilities for Venice, but also serve as an important step towards reinstating Italy as a leading art hub, or on a par with Paris. The aim of the Biennale was to bring together major achievements in global arts and to recognize the most talented artists.