- 1Nicolaus Copernicus University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Printmaking, Poland (jaszewski@umk.pl)
- 2Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland (w.juskiewicz@geopan.torun.pl)
- 3Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland (darek@twarda.pan.pl)
- 4Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland (robert@geopan.torun.pl)
- 5Independent researcher, Seattle, WA, USA (hello@kmalexander.com)
- 6Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland (kacpersky.ck@gmail.com)
Elements of the landscape and conceptions of the supernatural world often formed inseparable correlates. Erratic boulders, end moraines, eskers, kames, and peat bogs evoked interest as well as fear. They were associated with uncanny events and were also places where demonic figures resided. These symbolic landscape creations for the young glacial area in Pomerania were presented in the form of a map.
The 1:720,000 map ‘A New and Extensive Geographical Description of Supernatural Phenomena in Polish and German Pomerania’ (POMERANIÆ POLONICÆ ET GERMANICÆ PHÆNOMENA SUPERNATURALIA NOVA ET EMPLA DESCRIPTIO GEOGRAPHICA) presents the spatial distribution of supernatural beings along the Polish-German borderland (Juśkiewicz et al. 2025). Depicted phenomena include devils, spirits, wild hunters, gnomes, will-o'-the-wisps, giants, dragons, mermaids, ghosts, werewolves, apparitions, and nightmares, based on the 19th and 20-century folkloric sources compiled into a geospatial database. The map combines GIS and linocut techniques with graphic symbols inspired by Renaissance cartography, including decorative cartouches and vignettes. Integrating modern cartometric methods with traditional styles, the map is both artistic and rich in information on cultural beliefs, blending historical and contemporary cartography for a unique perspective on folklore in this culturally diverse region.
The final form of the map was created in a multi-stage process. For twelve depictions of supernatural beings, along with the title cartouche, general sketches were generated first using AI tools. After re-composition and corrections, they were transferred to the linoleum matrix. Following the carving, the matrices were printed and the prints scanned. In the final stage, the cartographic component developed using GIS tools was assembled with scans of linocuts and Renaissance ornaments using 2D graphics editing software.
References:
Juśkiewicz, W., Jaszewski, J., Brykała, D., Piotrowski, R., Alexander, K.M., and Juśkiewicz K.B. (2025). Supernatural beings of Pomerania: postmodern mapping of folkloristic sources. Journal of Maps 21 (1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2024.2434015
This work was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant No. 2023/49/N/HS3/02181).
How to cite: Jaszewski, J., Juśkiewicz, W., Brykała, D., Piotrowski, R., Alexander, K., and Juśkiewicz, K. B.: Supernatural beings as creators of young-glacial landscape of Pomerania, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7189, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7189, 2025.
