Fryderyk Chopin in exile – artist, patriot, emigrant

Chopin lived during the period of partition and, despite leaving Poland, his work—full of longing and national references—remained deeply rooted in Polish national culture. Overwhelmed by the political situation in his country, he made a voluntary decision to spend his life abroad. He settled in Paris, which became the most important center of Polish emigration. He led an intense social life there – his friends included Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Słowacki, and Cyprian Kamil Norwid. During the lesson, students will learn what the life of a Polish artist in Paris was like, what relations he had with other prominent figures of the emigration, and why his music was so important to Poles living abroad. They will also reflect on Chopin’s work as an expression of deep patriotism and the internal conflict between longing for his homeland and living among the European elite. In the workshop part, students will focus on analyzing historical and literary sources, including letters, memoirs, and excerpts from musical works. The lesson presents Chopin as an artist who was able to combine life in exile with a spiritual presence in his homeland.