Collection

Breton Man (Fisherman)

Wladyslaw Slewinski

Basic information

ID: Ж-949
Author: Wladyslaw Slewinski
Name: Breton Man (Fisherman)
Date of creation: c.1897
Country: Poland
Culture: Eastern Europe
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 76 x 56

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: portraiture
Provenance: Purchased in 1940
Exposition: Lozinski Palace

Information about author

Author: Wladyslaw Slewinski
Artist's lifetime: 1856–1918
Biography: Władysław Slewinski (1856–1918) was one of the most famous Polish post-impressionists, belonging to the Pont-Aven school, associated with the work of Paul Gauguin. He belonged to the "Young Poland" movement. The artist was born into an aristocratic family. In 1888 Wladyslaw Slewinski left the family business and went to Paris, meeting Paul Gauguin and spending most of his time in Le Pouldu in Brittany. They are united by a common worldview and view of art. From 1888 to 1890 he studied at the Académie Colorassi and the Académie Julien. He was an exhibitor at the Salon des Independents in 1895 and 1896. From 1905–1910 he was in Krakow, Poronin and Warsaw; in 1908–1910 he worked as a professor at the Warsaw School of Fine Arts. Afterwards, he returned to Brittany. He painted landscapes (primarily seascapes), still lifes and portraits. Paintings by Wladyslaw Slewinski are characterised by simple composition, flatness, smooth contour lines and harmonious, muted colour. However, the closest to the artist were still lives. His still lifes often depict an image of a bouquet of asters.

Object description

Against the olive curtain, is the half-length image of a young man with his hands folded on his lap. His face is elongated and blushed, and his gaze is sad and shy. On his head, he has a dark blue hat with a narrow brim in front. He wears a collarless, blue-green loose caftan. A dark blue frock coat with a low stand-up collar can be seen from underneath as well as the white trim of the shirt. To the left near the curtain is a grey-purple background. The young man's figure is not proportional; the artist emphasises the broad shoulders, incongruent with his young age. The young man looks somewhat devastated, self-conscious.

Inscriptions

On the bottom left is author's signature: «W.Slewinski»

Breton Man (Fisherman)

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