Publisher/Manufacturer: Gwasg Gregynog (Gregynog Press) Series title: The Romance of Parzival and the Holy Grail (plate 12)
1936 Wood engraving in black on white wove paper
309 x 254 mm. Loan: Gregynog, Davies sisters 1989
Proof taken from the original wood block at Gregynog in 1936. From a set of twelve illustrations for Wolfram von Eschenbach's (d. c.1230) narrative poem 'Parzival'. The blocks for the illustrations were engraved by Mrozewski between September 1933 and June 1934 whilst living in Amsterdam. They were never published in his lifetime. In 1990 Gwasg Gregynog published 'The Romance of Parzival and the Holy Grail', designed by David Esslemont and with an introduction by Carl Lofmark. This proof was reproduced - by offset lithography at Westerham Press, Kent - for one of the illustrations. The volume was published in an edition of 210 at £240. Ten of these had a special binding by James Brockman. Eschenbach's poem was the inspiration behind Richard Wagner's 'Parsival'. One of the largest depictions of Parzival, relates to the first image of his father. Instead of the passion of Gahmuret, it describes the love between Parzival and his wife Condwiramurs. Mrozewski's delights in the rich detail on the flowery fabric of Condwiramurs' nightdress. The series concludes with a depiction of the romance of which Eshenbach wrote
Book illustration for the Arthurian legend 'Parzival'; foreground, the medieval knight Parzival, wearing a belted tunic, spurs, a cloak with a chain and a laurel, is reunited with his wife (Queen Codwiramurs) who wears a necklace and a see-through dress embroidered with flowers; background, a landscape? with two sleeping girls and distant stars and cosmic bands. Engraved in fine detail in a symbolist / fantasy style with gravers of varied widths