Collection

Alley in Autumn (a study)

Jacek Malczewski

Basic information

ID: Ж-3769
Author: Jacek Malczewski
Name: Alley in Autumn (a study)
Technique: oil painting
Material: cardboard oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 32.5 x 24.5

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: symbolic art
Provenance: Purchased from a private individual

Information about author

Author: Jacek Malczewski
Artist's lifetime: 1854–1929
Biography: Jacek Malczewski (July 14, 1854, Radom, Kingdom of Poland, Russian Empire – October 8, 1929, Krakow, Republic of Poland) was an outstanding artist and one of the most prominent representatives of Polish Symbolism. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow, where his teacher was Jan Matejko. The artist participated in an archeological expedition to Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Greece, which was organized by Count Karol Lanckoronski. He also visited Munich and Italy. Jacek Malczewski was one of the founders of the art union "Sztuka" ("Art"). The artist's creative heritage includes landscapes and portraiture, symbolic compositions, interpretations of religious themes, and numerous self-portraits in various images.

Object description

An image of the road was frequent in the paintings by Jacek Malczewski; it fully reproduces the life’s philosophy of the artist and his constant search for ways to depict philosophical reflections on the complex issues of human existence, man's place in material and spiritual progress, good and evil, as well as life and death. In the works by Jacek Malczewski there is a constant metaphor of a man's earthly journey, their aspirations and searches. In this work, the artist contrasts the figure of a young woman with the autumn landscape. A small and almost monochrome human figure looks lost among the bright colors of nature that surrounds it. The terracotta leaves falling from the trees give dynamism to the work, and the woman, on the contrary, takes a step forward in the direction of the viewer with her eyes closed.

Inscriptions

At the bottom left of the painting there is an inscription "J. Malczewski"

Alley in Autumn (a study)

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