«Children, this is what a Squirrel Looks Like» —a Journey Through Polish Post-war Architecture in Caricature

This article explores the state of Polish architecture as portrayed by Polish caricaturists, with a particular focus on the 1960s, a period that marked the conclusion of post-war reconstruction and the emergence of new spatial planning strategies —back to Modernism. These architectural developments are examined both through textual analysis and satirical illustrations from the era. Humor and satire have long played a significant role in Polish society, serving as vital components of public discourse. Satirical drawings, in particular, were once a prominent feature of newspapers and magazines, offering a distorted yet perceptive reflection of Polish reality in PRL (Polish People’s Republic). The illustrations presented in this study are sourced from the collection of the Eryk Lipiński Museum of Caricature in Warsaw.