Roman Artymowski (1919-1993), LANDSCAPE LII,1976.

watercolor, collage/paper on cardboard, 64 x 44.4 cm
signed and dated in pencil p.d.: RArtym 76
on the back, on a bristol lined board, described in pencil: ROMAN ARTYMOWSKI | LANDSCAPE LII, 1976 | WATER - COLOUR - COLLAGE 65 X 44 cm

The year 2019 is associated with the 100th anniversary of Roman Artymowski's birth. It is worth mentioning Artymowski not only as a great artist, but also as a great man. Bozena Kowalska wrote about him: "Many art critics, including myself, have repeatedly given in the press or in the foreword to the catalog of an exhibition of the artist's works, an expression of their appreciation of his art. However, did anyone write about him as a person? And, after all, Artymowski was someone unparalleled. He belonged to that vanishing species of people on whose way of being and, more importantly, conduct, the noblest mark was imprinted by the culture of generations. Loyal in friendship, selflessly kind to everyone with whom fate brought him into contact, he tried to help everyone who needed his help. In the face of historical events, in the face of all ideologies, and in the face of human weaknesses and vices, he maintained a distance tinged with a tinge of irony. This distance and irony also characterized him in relation to himself, which is among the rarest of rarities. He was an artist of great sensitivity, reflectiveness and culture, and in his extremely spare paintings he was able to include messages of sensation, thought and emotion. However, these were never personal ascensions: he was too discreet and distinguished for that. [...] All these qualities are reflected in his art: simple yet refined, full of restraint, yet rich, often limited to rudimentary geometric forms, yet carrying readable messages and subtle, sometimes barely perceptible emotions" (B. Kowalska, [introduction in] Roman Artymowski 1919 - 1993: Watercolors, November 1996, Wł. Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, State Art Gallery in Łódź [cat. exhibition], Łódź 1996, pp. 4-5).