Artwork

Damascus – Jarta. From the journey to Palestine

Damascus – Jarta. From the journey to Palestine, by Jan Ciągliński, unspecified, 1901
Damascus – Jarta. From the journey to Palestine, by Jan Ciągliński, unspecified, 1901

Damascus – Jarta. From the journey to Palestine is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Jan Ciągliński. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1901, this oil work by Jan Ciągliński captures a quiet interior scene from his travels in the Middle East. The composition centers on a seated figure beside a white goat, set against a darkened room that recedes toward a doorway on the left. The painting is part of the National Museum in Warsaw’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a solitary traveler, dressed in a yellow shirt and hat, sharing a moment of stillness with a goat that turns its back toward him. The juxtaposition of human and animal within a modest interior suggests a pause in a broader journey, hinting at the everyday encounters of a pilgrim in the Levant.

Technique & Style

Ciągliński employs a post‑impressionist palette, using muted, shadow‑rich tones to model space and convey depth. The contrast between the illuminated figures and the surrounding darkness creates a chiaroscuro effect that emphasizes form while imparting a warm, intimate atmosphere to the scene.

History & Provenance

Born in Poland, Ciągliński worked in St Petersburg during the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II, traveling extensively in the Near East. After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of early‑20th‑century Polish art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jan Ciągliński

Artist

Jan Ciągliński

Jan Ciągliński (Polish: ; Russian: Ян/Иван Францевич Ционглинский, romanized: Yan/Ivan Frantsevich Tsionglinskiy; 20 February 1858 – 6 January 1913) was a Polish painter, active in St.