Stanisław Staszic poetą. Perspektywa Kajetana Koźmiana

Abstract

The article focuses on the less-explored yet significant role of Stanisław Staszic as a poet, analyzing it through the lens of Kajetan Koźmian’s opinions, a distinguished literary critic of the early 19th century. It’s challenging to accept that Staszic’s literary achievements, often overlooked in encyclopedic works, contributed in any way to the development of Polish literature, and it’s difficult to consider Staszic as an outstanding poet. However, the official position of contemporary literary criticism was not unequivocal, with some voices advocating for recognizing certain aesthetic and literary value, especially in his main poetic work, Ród ludzki. Yet, Kajetan Koźmian’s opinion seems to completely contradict this. Zabielski, analyzing statements from this representative of the so-called „post-partition classicism” [klasycyzm porozbiorowy] movement, which superficially contain an apology for Staszic’s poetry, reveals their full critical, negative stance.