1931
gelatin silver print, silver chlorobromide paper, 27.4 x 20.4 cm (30.1 x 23.8 cm),
annotation in pencil on the reverse: "St. Ign. Witkiewicz - "Przerażenie wariata", 1931",
vintage print

Madman`s Terror series is one of Witkacy`s most appreciated photographs. The work dates back to the early period of his collaboration with well-known photographer, Józef Głogowski, who documented Witkacy`s famous photographic enactments. It is an example of a unique masterpiece proving the artist`s extraordinary temper, crazy imagination and bold ideas about art and philosophy.
While creating his photographic images, Witkacy explored a range of possibilities, often exceeding mental limits. His work is a continuous play between reality and fiction. His photographs resemble scenes from a Dada theatre where any possible means of expression is employed to illustrate the absurdity of the world.
It is in photography that Witkacy realised his surrealist ideas. He was interested in states of narcotic vision, hallucinations and madness. Madman`s Terror is a particularly expressive example of his psychological experiments and fits into a series of very personal works.
Being extremely rare on the market, such works are referred to as chef d`oeuvre. The photograph is also notable for its large format.