Jacek MALCZEWSKI (1854-1929), "Study of four female figures and the head of a putto".

watercolor, pen, paper pasted on cardboard, 21 x 34.5 cm,
signed on lead l.d.: J. Malczewski.
On the reverse, circular stamp: From the collection of Maria Malczewska, and oval stamp: Pracownia art. rzeźb. Pozłotnicza / Aleksandra Olecha / Kraków, Rynek Klep. 14.

Prominent Polish painter, student of the Cracow SSP in the studios of W. Łuszczkiewicz, F. Szynalewski, H. Grabiński, and a little later Jan Matejko. He continued his studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Art in Paris (1876-1877). In 1879 he already had his own studio in Cracow. In 1884, as a draftsman, he took part in Karol Lanckoroński's archaeological expedition to Asia Minor. He spent the years 1885-1886 in Munich. He traveled to Italy several times. In 1896-1900 and 1910 -1921 he was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, and its rector in 1912-1914. He was a founding member of the TAP "Art". In 1905-1908 he was active in the management of the Cracow TPSP. He spent the first years of the war in Vienna, and from 1916 he lived permanently in Cracow. In the initial phase of his work, Malczewski referred to patriotic and martyrological themes, the "Siberian" period opens with "The Death of Elenai", inspired by Słowacki's work. After returning from Munich, the period of mature symbolism begins, the artist, in addition to the problems of the fate of the homeland, is interested in human fate, the meaning of art, the mysteries of existence. Derived from mythology, the artist gave an individual stamp to the symbols, often linking them to Polish tradition. Portraits are a separate group. The artist painted family members, friends and acquaintances. In addition to conventional shots, he often painted portraits with a symbolic composition in the background. Among the most interesting symbolic portraits are likenesses of people associated with the art world who were friends of the artist.