Leon WYCZÓŁKOWSKI (1852-1936), Self-portrait, 1913

Watercolor, cardboard; 48 x 40.3 cm;
Signed and dated with dedication l. g.: Dr. Koschowi / LWyczół / 1913 (in pencil).
On the back twice numbered (in crayon): 2467.

In his work, Leon Wyczółkowski took up the themes of landscape, still life, genre scenes and portrait. As a versatile artist, he used a variety of techniques from painting to printmaking, including its latest varieties such as fluoroforte. Portraits by Leon Wyczółkowski are almost psychological studies that faithfully reflect not only the facial features of the model, but also his emotional state. Thanks to this and the frequent use of a narrowed color range, the extremely rare images made in oil, watercolor, pastel or graphics become at the same time atmospheric compositions. These features can be followed primarily in Leon Wyczółkowski's own images, where the painter documented changes in physiognomy, costume, or in the formal layer, the intensity of light in the composition, in a relaxed yet precise manner.
The artist painted conterfects on commission, but most valued those he created for friends. Among those portrayed by Leon Wyczółkowski were fellow artists Jozef Chelmonski, Juliusz Kossak, Stanislaw Witkiewicz, Konstanty Laszczka, Jacek Malczewski, as well as writers and collectors Władysław Reymont, Jan Kasprowicz, Tadeusz Żuk-Skarszewski, Feliks "Mangghi" Jasieński, Erazm Barącz. Among other portraits, images stand out: Natalia Siennicka - actress, Marta Nieziemska-Rawczyńska - pianist, siblings Zofia Jahoda-Broniewska and Robert Jahoda Żółtowski - Krakow bookbinders, Jerzy Warchałowski - architect.
The offered self-portrait by Leon Wyczółkowski bears a dedication to the Cracow lawyer Dr. Teodor Kosch, who provided the artist with legal assistance, as for example: to Ignacy Paderewski and Henryk Sienkiewicz. Dr. Kosch also amassed an interesting collection of works by the
painter, and was himself portrayed in 1913 in an autolithograph (cf. MNK III-ryc.-1247)