Józef Mehoffer by Wyspiański, 1898

Józef Mehoffer (1869–1946) was a Polish painter, graphic artist, author of stained glass windows and mosaics, designer of fabrics, interiors and furniture, theater decorator, poster master, the leading art representative of “Mloda Polska” (“Young Poland”). Jozef Mehoffer is one of the founders of the community of Polish artists “Art”, which popularized modern avant-garde painting in the country. Mehoffer gained international fame thanks to the creation of stained glass windows of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Freiburg (Switzerland). In addition, the artist was a talented teacher. He was a professor, and later was a rector of the Krakow Academy of Arts; among the students of Mehoffer, there were many famous artists.