Artwork
Boy Shooting with a Key
Boy Shooting with a Key is an oil painting by the Realist artist Aleksander Kotsis. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
Boy Shooting with a Key is an 1863 oil painting by Polish artist Aleksander Kotsis, typically known for blending Romantic and Realist styles in landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes. The work is part of the National Museum in Kraków's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of childhood play in a rural setting, depicting a barefoot boy aiming a makeshift gun. The scene conveys simplicity and innocence, highlighting everyday youthful activity.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the piece aligns with Realist movement principles, focusing on ordinary life. Kotsis's style in this work emphasizes naturalistic depiction over romanticized elements often present in his other pieces.
History & Provenance
Created in 1863, the painting is now held in the permanent collection of the National Museum in Kraków, Poland.
Context
Set against a rural backdrop with rolling hills and a cloudy sky, the painting includes secondary figures (a boy with a sheep and another crouched boy), suggesting a broader, serene country life scene.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Aleksander Kotsis (30 May 1836 – 7 August 1877) was a Polish painter. He created landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes in a combination Romantic and Realistic style. Most of his paintings are small. He was born and died in Kraków.
