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 "The 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 drawing shows three female figures, two in the foreground and one in the background. All are dressed in traditional clothing worn by wealthy peasants of that time. The figures in the foreground are positioned very close together, embracing each other, which can be interpreted as two relatives or close friends. Their poses convey a sense of closeness and familiarity in life. Their facial expressions and posture are generally calm, but the woman on the left may be smiling slightly, while the one next to her looks somewhat sad. The background against which the figures are depicted is sketched schematically, showing a street, a fence, and trees, apparently to emphasise the importance of the main characters and draw attention to them. The woman on the left has a scarf tied behind her head, under which her hair is hidden and braided with a bow. She is dressed in a long dress or skirt, probably with floral patterns, over which she wears a short vest or corset. She is wearing shoes or boots. Overall, the outfit looks festive and elegant, perhaps for a special occasion. The central figure wears an interesting headdress with a voluminous top, decorated with ribbons, possibly a traditional cap or festive attribute. She is wearing a cape or cloak on her shoulders, which fastens under her neck and falls down. Under the cape, a long dress is visible, similar in cut to the one worn by the other woman. She is wearing shoes or boots. The woman on the right appears to be wearing a headdress similar to that of the central figure. She is wearing a short cloak or cape, under which a dress is visible. Her shoes are less noticeable, possibly lighter in color or style. Behind her is a rural scene – trees, a fence, and the silhouette of a building. The image conveys the atmosphere of life among townspeople and peasants in the 18th–19th centuries, focusing on the traditional women's clothing of the time: long skirts, headdresses, capes, vests, and heavy shoes. All elements of clothing look practical, but with signs of decoration – patterns, ribbons, details – indicating their social affiliation to the bourgeoisie or wealthy peasantry. The drawing is done in pencil using graphic techniques. The manner of execution is quite detailed, with the author conveying the small details of folk dress and the folds of clothing. Since the drawing accurately reflects and conveys the details and features of the folk clothing of a particular region, it has a pronounced ethnographic, historical, and cultural value. Its artistic significance lies in the accurate and detailed reproduction of folk costumes, 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