Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by Ignacy Marek. It is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Ignacy Marek’s self‑portrait, executed in oil on canvas, presents a close‑up view of the artist himself. The work is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it is displayed among other Polish nineteenth‑century pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Marek with dark hair, a moustache, and a somber expression, dressed in a dark jacket against a uniform, warm‑brown background. The direct gaze and restrained demeanor suggest a contemplative self‑examination rather than a flamboyant display of personality.
Technique & Style
Marek employs pronounced brushwork, especially in the rendering of facial features and the collar, where the paint is applied thickly. Contrasting light and shadow are modeled through bold strokes, creating a chiaroscuro effect that emphasizes volume and gives the portrait a tactile presence.
History & Provenance
Created by Marek during his active period as a painter, the self‑portrait entered the National Museum’s holdings in Warsaw through acquisition in the early twentieth century. Since then it has remained in the museum’s permanent collection, contributing to the representation of Polish artists of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ignacy Marek’s small bundle of oils feels like a quiet hallway in a 19th-century apartment—portraits, interiors, and a self-portrait that lets you stand in the same room.
Gentleman portrait
Omakuva
Portretul arhitectului Edmond van Saanen Algi
Untitled
Omakuva 1600-luvun puvussa
Portrait of János Fadrusz
Portret de bărbat
Adriaan Pit (1860-1944). Director of Nederlands Museum voor Geschiedenis en Kunst Amsterdam 1898-1918
Portrait of Artur Gruszecki, sketch
George H. Williams
Näyttelijän muotokuva (Lars Hanson)
Portrait of Józef Unierzyski