Adam Setkowicz [1875-1945], , Poland 1st half of the 20th century, Krakowiacy on horses

The vertical composition depicts two young men riding a horse towards the viewer. The figures are dressed in traditional Krakow costumes - white shirts, ornate vests and distinctive hats with feathers and colorful decorative elements. The riders sit on horses with slender silhouettes, shown in motion, with their front legs raised. The background is a landscape with softly outlined forms - the outline of trees, hills and a road. In the background, a group of figures forming a retinue can be seen. The color scheme is kept in warm, earthy tones, with accents of red, green and blue. Watercolor, with visible paper transitions and light, dynamic brushstrokes. The artist's signature is in the lower left corner.
Paper
Condition as shown in the photos.
Size: 47, 5 x 38, 5 cm; in light passe-partout: 31 x 21 cm.

The work is part of a characteristic trend in the work of Adam Setkowicz, one of the most recognizable Polish illustrators and painters of genre scenes at the turn of the 20th century. The artist, with strong ties to Krakow, focused on depictions of everyday life and folk rituals, particularly of the Krakow region. The motif of Krakowians on horseback is among the most popular subjects in his oeuvre. These depictions often show moments related to wedding rituals, where the mounted participants in the procession play a representative and ceremonial role. Setkowicz's work was widely disseminated through postcard reproductions, which contributed to consolidating the image of "typical" Krakow folklore in the minds of the general public. The featured watercolor is a valuable example of this aesthetic - combining documentation of custom with artistic stylization - and remains a testament to the interest in folk culture during the period of the formation of a modern national identity.
Adam Setkowicz (1875-1945) - Polish painter, illustrator and applied graphic artist, all his life with Krakow. He was born on December 4, 1875 and died on October 24, 1945 in the same city. He was educated at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow from 1891 to 1894, and later perfected his technique in the studio of Theodor Axentowicz. Setkowicz's oeuvre focused primarily on genre scenes set in the realities of the Polish countryside - especially those of Podkrakow, the borderlands and the Beskid Mountains, with leading themes of sleigh rides, hunting, weddings and the everyday life of peasants, often in winter scenery. His style was inspired by the paintings of Jozef Brandt, Julian Fałat or Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski, especially in the dynamic depiction of horses and scenes of movement. The artist worked in watercolor and oil techniques. He was an extremely prolific artist - his oeuvre includes several thousand works. An important part of Setkowicz's activity was applied graphics and illustration. The artist's works were massively distributed on postcards, which brought him fame at the turn of the 20th century. His work was sometimes criticized for its conventionality and repetitive motifs. Today, however, it is considered an important part of the documentation of Polish folklore at the turn of the 20th century. Setkowicz's works can be found in the National Museum in Cracow and other institutions in Poland and abroad.