Collection of Ethnographic Drawings

Kajetan Wincenty Kielisiński created numerous etchings and drawings devoted to folklore, life in Polish villages and towns, historical monuments, and landscapes. He was one of the first to develop bookplates in Poland. During his travels to various locations, he collected graphic materials for the publications "Polish Antiquities" and "Folk Costumes". In 1855, Poznań publisher Jan Konstanty Żupanski published "Kielisiński's Album", which collected the artist's scattered works. Kielisiński's graphic works, drawings, sketchbooks, and correspondence were kept in the Kórnik Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences, as well as in national museums (Kraków, Poznań, Warsaw) and renowned libraries (Jagiellonian University, Ossolineum, Warsaw University). The picture shows two men standing next to each other and talking. Both are dressed in traditional clothing, consisting of peasants' overcoats or żupans, belted with wide belts and high boots. One man is wearing a tall hat of a characteristic shape, while the other is wearing a hat with wide brims. Both men are of mature age; the one on the right is clearly older, with his hands folded behind his back and a whip in hand. The figure on the left is shown in profile, while the other is turned slightly towards the viewer, creating the impression of a lively conversation. The man on the left is gesturing actively, with his left arm bent at the elbow and raised to head level, and his right arm at chest or stomach level. The fingers of both hands form a similar gesture. Obviously, this man is accompanying his story in this way or explaining something to his interlocutor, who is listening intently. In general, the men's poses are calm and static, while their faces show complete involvement in the conversation. The figures are drawn with clear lines, without shadows. The artist paid attention to the details of the clothing, revealing the fabric's folds, the relief of the belts, and the shape of the shoes. The background is marked very loosely, with only a few lines to outline the surroundings formed by the peasant houses. Its artistic significance lies in the accurate and detailed reproduction of folk attire, making it a valuable source for research and study of traditional culture. From an aesthetic point of view, we are dealing with a realistic drawing, with a special emphasis on its documentary nature.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery