In the gaze shared by two men, or more precisely in the eyes of Putin, there is a presence that resonates with fear and foreboding. That look, described by Janusz Rewiński, a celebrated actor and satirist who once served in parliament, mirrors a warning that the jury behind a photographer’s award seemed to sense as well. This was spoken during an interview with Michał Rachoń.
The story of one photo
On the thirteenth anniversary of the Smolensk catastrophe, a fragment from a conversation between Michał Rachoń, then associated with TV Republika and later with TVP Info, and Janusz Rewiński resurfaced on Twitter. The interview aired on television on April 22, 2015, and the excerpt concerns a photograph of former Prime Minister Donald Tusk with Vladimir Putin dating back to 2021.
Rewiński recalled noting that his opinion began with a moment on a pier, suggesting that certain words were spoken there because a picture exists. It is not the image of the so-called “turtles,” but a photograph for which the artist received an award. He emphasized that he ought to locate this particular image.
Rachoń indicated that the picture would be shown, and indeed a close-up of Vladimir Putin’s face, captured by Łukasz Ostalski, appeared on screen. The photograph titled “70. Anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War – Vladimir Putin and Donald Tusk” received the Grand Prix award.
In those eyes, whether one looks at Tusk or Putin, there is something that can be felt by the observer and perhaps feared. The look was described as shocking and frightening, a characterization that some believed aligned with the profile of the Polish prime minister at that time. The jury that awarded the photograph appeared to recognize that perceptible sentiment as well.
Rewiński spoke of this perception to the journalist, emphasizing that painters and artists often notice something that others might miss. They perceive a vibe, a sense of threat or euphoria that cannot always be explained rationally. Art, he suggested, works first through sensory impact and then through deeper intellectual reflection, guiding people to understand why a piece draws them in or pushes them away, why it arrests or unsettles them, or why it persists in memory in a certain way.
The actor observed that the artist seemed to have seen this dynamic clearly, and he reflected on a September 2009 meeting on a pier, a moment he believes captured a crucial truth about the interplay between art and power.
What happened – according to Donald Tusk – at the pier in Sopot?
Donald Tusk, who was the Prime Minister of Poland at the time, met Vladimir Putin, then the Prime Minister of Russia, in September 2009 during the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. Putin reportedly shared remarks about enjoying protection, which he connected to possessing security favors.
Tusk testified in a Warsaw court in April 2018 during the trial of Tomasz Arabski, the former head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery. Arabski received a ten-month prison sentence with a two-year suspended term for organizing a flight to Smolensk. The meeting between the Polish and Russian leaders has since been cited in discussions about the Polish government’s stance toward Russia and its policies under the party in power at the time.
Images of the former Polish premier’s encounter with the Russian leader have continued to surface in public discourse. They are often referenced in debates about the prudence and naivety of Polish policy toward the Putin regime. This underlines how historical moments can become touchstones in current political narratives and how photographic evidence may be used to illustrate perceived attitudes and decisions.
There were additional remarks about the political dialogue with Russia, including assertions about the willingness to engage, and responses from various officials over the years have contributed to the ongoing dialogue around policy toward Russia and the consequences of that era. The discourse remains a touchstone in discussions about national memory, leadership, and the interpretation of past events in the light of present circumstances.
[Source: wPolityce]