The dominant characteristic of Polish art has always been its steadfast alliance with Western Europe. This Slavic nation, situated on plainlands, has been invaded from all sides, by Mongols, Cossacks, Tartars, Teutonic Knights and Nazis; yet across the centuries it has remained a stronghold for artistic styles as familiar in Paris and Venice as in Warsaw. In no small part this allegiance comes from Poland's 1,000 years as a Christian nation oriented toward Rome.
To celebrate the millennium this year, Chicago's Polish communitythe largest outside of Polandrequested and got from the present Communist government an exhibition of 127 historic objects that...