EXHIBITION: RYBNIK • THE TRADE • THE BUSINESS • THE GESHEFT

The exhibition takes the form of a unique historical tour of the streets of Rybnik at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was here that the businesses of local merchants and craftsmen flourished, offering everything needed for daily life: from fresh baked goods to the exotic products available in colonial shops.

The display highlights the interwar period and the city's earlier Prussian times, showing the particularly rapid development of trade and crafts between 1922 and 1939. In the late 1930s, Rybnik—then part of the autonomous Silesian Voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic—saw ambitious plans for the construction of a modern, functional urban layout. Their implementation, and the further flourishing of trade and services, was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

The words "fach" (trade), "interes" (business), and "geszeft" (deal, gesheft) contained in the title are terms derived from different languages, testifying to the multicultural nature of Rybnik. Diverse traditions and communities coexisted here for decades, creating the city's colourful economic and cultural melting pot. A trade to one’s name gave the chance to succeed and run a prosperous business, also known as a gesheft.

The exposition highlights the entrepreneurship and diligence of former Rybnik residents, as well as historical knowledge and curiosities related to the city's architecture and urban planning. On the tour, we can pay a symbolic visit to the confectionery next to the Apollo cinema, shop at the baker's or colonial store, have our photo taken at the studio of one of Rybnik's photographers, order a stylish coat at the tailor's, and have our watch repaired at the watchmaker's. As we wander through the streets of Rybnik, we pass the windows of department stores with mannequins from Zamysłów. Eventually, weary from walking, we can stop for refreshments at the Świerklaniec restaurant, which serves beer from Rybnik breweries.

Rybnik • The Trade • The Business • The Gesheft is a unique opportunity to reflect on the past and gain a better understanding of the city's present character. The exhibition serves as a reminder of the important role of trade and craftsmanship in Rybnik's history and the changing needs of its residents.