Bust of Father J. Bokanowski

The photograph captures a sculptural bust of Father J. Bokanowski by Luna Drexler. The artist eschewed idealisation, and her plastic style is marked by a swift, energetic movement, leaving the texture open with distinct traces of modelling. Particular attention is drawn to the treatment of the attire: the folds of the cassock and cloak are modelled in broad, vertical masses, creating a sense of the fabric's weight and dynamic motion simultaneously. The material of a dark, almost graphite tone with warm undertones enhances the dramatic quality of the image and accentuates the relief. The composition is directed towards the viewer – the gaze and a subtle turn of the head lend a psychological presence to the portrait. Consequently, the sculpture combines the documentary recognisability of the model with the expressive freedom of plastic language. The image records the object's state of preservation at the time of photography. The nature of the photography indicates that it was taken for internal museum documentation. The sculpture was photographed against a neutral mid-tone background. The undeniable value of this photographic document lies in its record of the work's history at a certain stage of its existence.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery