Artwork
Portraif of a man – Mr. Zarewicz (?)
Portraif of a man – Mr. Zarewicz (?) is an oil painting by the Realist artist Franciszek Żmurko. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1890 by Franciszek Żmurko, a Polish realist painter, *Portrait of a man – Mr. Zarewicz (?)* is an oil painting featuring a single male subject. Its attribution to Mr. Zarewicz remains tentative, indicated by the question mark. The work is part of the National Museum in Warsaw's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a man dressed in formal attire—a dark jacket with buttons and a white collar—set against a dark background that emphasizes his presence. His serious expression and direct gaze contribute to the overall formal and dignified atmosphere of the portrait.
Technique & Style
Żmurko employed chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to achieve depth and dimensionality in the portrait. This approach, characteristic of realist painting, highlights the subject's facial features and the texture of his clothing.
History & Provenance
Following his training in Kraków under Jan Matejko and in Munich, Żmurko settled in Warsaw in 1882. *Portrait of a man – Mr. Zarewicz (?)*, created eight years later, reflects his established realist style during this period. The painting is now held in the National Museum in Warsaw.
Context
As a work of the realism movement, the painting aligns with Żmurko's training and the prevailing artistic trends of late 19th-century Europe, emphasizing accurate and detailed representation of the subject.
Artist & collection
Artist
Franciszek Żmurko (18 July 1859, Lviv – 9 October 1910, Warsaw) was a Polish realist painter.
