Jacek MALCZEWSKI (1854-1929), "Portrait of a man on a bench - sketch".

Author: MALCZEWSKI Jacek
Title: Portrait of a man on a bench - sketch
Technique: oil, cardboard
Dimensions: 24.8 x 35.1 cm
Dimensions with frame: 32.7 x 43 cm
Signed l.g.: "J Malczewski"

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:
This work by Jacek Malczewski shows a portrait of a mature, elegant man sitting on a bench surrounded by nature. Despite stopping the work at the level of a sketch, the artist captured the physiognomic and characterological features of the depicted model, who looks at the viewer with a confident gaze. The "Portrait of a Man on a Bench" reveals Malczewski's technical mastery and his excellent sense of color, as despite the narrow, subdued color range with a dominance of browns, the painter captured the perspective depth and diversity of the flora of the landscape while illuminating the composition with impastos of gray and blue. Also important for the overall perception of the work are the single color patches of yellow, red and green harmoniously distributed throughout the sketch.
In the works of Jacek Malczewski, the motif of a figure sitting on a bench appears repeatedly throughout the period of his artistic activity, such as the famous "Introduction" in the collection of the National Museum in Krakow or the portrait of the painter's sister Bronislawa in front of the house in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

Jacek Malczewski's biography is available on the website of Krakow Auction House [SEE].