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Self-Portrait with a Woman

Jacek Malczewski

  • Self-Portrait with a Woman 2
  • Self-Portrait with a Woman 3
Basic information
ID
Ж-1919
Author
Jacek Malczewski
Name
Self-Portrait with a Woman
Date of creation
c.1904
Country
Poland
Technique
oil painting
Material
canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm)
39.5 x 50
Additionally
Type
painting
Genre
self-portrait
Provenance
Collection of Leon Pininski
Information about author
Author
Jacek Malczewski
Artist's lifetime
1854–1929
Country
Poland
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
Portraits by Jacek Malczewski are one of the greatest pages of his artistic legacy. Portrait paintings had several characteristic features; in particular, the portrayed person was depicted either bust-length or knee-length; the figure was shown in such a way that the viewer's attention was focused on the head and arms of the person in the painting; the face was emotionless, and the facial expressions were undemonstrative. The character of the person portrayed was emphasized with the help of surrounding objects or a landscape. Those principles were clearly seen in Malczewski's self-portraits as well, though all of them were different. With time, the artist worked out an average type of his portrait composition, which changed little over the years. The artist depicted himself as tall and slim, in shining knight armour, with a flower and hussar wings behind his back, a muse and birds, and the image of the Virgin Mary on his chest. The main feeling they evoke is the loneliness of the artist, who is always immersed in himself and faithful to his path. The Gallery collection includes 12 self-portraits by Jacek Malczewski.
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

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