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Self-Portrait With Muse

Jacek Malczewski

Basic information

ID: Ж-1956
Author: Jacek Malczewski
Name: Self-Portrait With Muse
Date of creation: 1904
Country: Poland
Technique: oil painting
Material: wood
Dimensions: 47.5 x 57.7 cm (height x width)

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: portraiture
Provenance: the Brunicki collection
Exposition: Lozinski Palace

Information about author

Author: Jacek Malczewski
Author in the original: 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

This is a paired portrait of Jacek Malczewski depicted in profile (a self-portrait) and his muse next to him (probably Maria Bal (Balowa)). The woman and the painter hold on to the scepter; the artist stares at the muse who can pierce the heart that she holds in her other hand. Obviously, this is an allegory of Jacek Malczewski's passionate feelings for the depicted woman.

Inscriptions

Below in the middle there is an author's inscription "Jacek Malczewski 1904".

Portrayed person