Artwork
Bust of a Bearded Old Man
Bust of a Bearded Old Man is an oil painting by Leon Wyczółkowski. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
Bust of a Bearded Old Man is a portrait painted in oil by Leon Wyczółkowski in 1888. It exemplifies the artist's early realist style, developed during his association with the Young Poland movement and Polish Realism.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a solemn, elderly man with a prominent beard, intense facial features, and a contemplative downward gaze. His attire includes a red robe and a wooden cane, suggesting a figure of quiet dignity.
Technique & Style
Wyczółkowski employed chiaroscuro to create depth and volume, contrasting a dark background with the subject's meticulously rendered, light-captured features, emphasizing texture and emotional depth.
History & Provenance
Created in 1888, this work reflects Wyczółkowski's pre-academic period, before his tenure as a professor at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
This piece is situated within late 19th-century Polish art, aligning with the realist tendencies of the Young Poland movement, which sought to capture everyday life and the human condition with authenticity.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Leon Jan Wyczółkowski (Polish: ; 11 April 1852 – 27 December 1936) was a Polish painter and educator who was one of the leading painters of the Young Poland movement, as well as the principal representative of Polish Realism in art of the…
Head of an Old Man with a Grey Beard
Portrait of an Old Man
Study of the Head of an Old Man
Study of an Old Man
Portrait of an Old Man
Study of the Head of an Old Man
Portretul unui bărbat cu barba căruntă
Portret de bătrân
Study of an old man's head
Head of an Old Man
Study of the Head of an Old Man
Head of a Bearded Old Man