Artwork
Departure for hunting, sketch
Departure for hunting, sketch is an oil painting by the Realist artist Maksymilian Gierymski. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1871, *Departure for Hunting, Sketch* is an oil painting by Polish artist Maksymilian Gierymski. Executed in a realist manner, the work depicts a hunting party moving through a barren forest. It is part of the National Museum in Warsaw’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows a group of riders in traditional hunting attire—red jackets and black hats—guiding their horses along a forest path. A central figure raises his arms, seemingly directing the procession, while hunting dogs dart among the mounts. The composition conveys the organized yet vigorous nature of a 19th‑century hunt.
Technique & Style
Gierymski employs a muted palette of dark tones and heavy shadows to emphasize the overcast sky and leafless trees. The brushwork captures the texture of the horses’ coats and the sheen of the riders’ garments, while the sparse foliage reinforces the stark atmosphere typical of Munich‑school realism.
History & Provenance
After receiving a government scholarship in 1867, Gierymski studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where he refined his realist approach. The painting later entered the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display as a representative example of his early work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maksymilian Dionizy Gierymski (1846 in Warsaw – 1874 in Reichenhall, Bavaria) was a Polish painter, specializing mainly in watercolours.
