material: oil on canvas
dimensions: 332 × 232 cm
description: All his life, Jacek Malczewski was fascinated by the theme of art, inspiration and the role of an artist. “Introduction” is an illustration of these dilemmas, a foreword to an unknown and uncertain future. The composition shows an apparently trivial genre scene in a setting of lush greenery. The main character is a young boy – a painter’s apprentice – reflecting upon his visions. He is presented in a way that makes the viewer reflect on the mystery of artistic inspiration and the unclear relationship between human senses and the nature of dreams. The painting is also an expression of Malczewski’s dilemmas and the artistic quandaries he experienced while searching for a confirmation that would reassure him that becoming a painter was the right choice for him. The nature that surrounds the boy is also crucial – it may very well be the element which helps a painter understand his artistic vocation or bring the desired inspiration.
Urszula Kozakowska-Zaucha
exposition: The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice,
The Cloth Hall, 1, Main Market Square
key: Realism, polish impressionism, beginnings of symbolism >>>
dimensions: 332 × 232 cm
description: All his life, Jacek Malczewski was fascinated by the theme of art, inspiration and the role of an artist. “Introduction” is an illustration of these dilemmas, a foreword to an unknown and uncertain future. The composition shows an apparently trivial genre scene in a setting of lush greenery. The main character is a young boy – a painter’s apprentice – reflecting upon his visions. He is presented in a way that makes the viewer reflect on the mystery of artistic inspiration and the unclear relationship between human senses and the nature of dreams. The painting is also an expression of Malczewski’s dilemmas and the artistic quandaries he experienced while searching for a confirmation that would reassure him that becoming a painter was the right choice for him. The nature that surrounds the boy is also crucial – it may very well be the element which helps a painter understand his artistic vocation or bring the desired inspiration.
Urszula Kozakowska-Zaucha
exposition: The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice,
The Cloth Hall, 1, Main Market Square
key: Realism, polish impressionism, beginnings of symbolism >>>