Artwork
Widma w pracowni – Śmierć
Widma w pracowni – Śmierć is an oil painting by Piotr Stachiewicz. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1892, *Widma w pracowni – Śmierć* is an oil painting by Polish artist Piotr Stachiewicz. The work is part of the National Museum in Kraków’s permanent collection. It exemplifies the painter’s late‑19th‑century interest in atmospheric scenes that blend realism with symbolic overtones.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows a solitary figure standing in a dimly lit interior, turned away from the viewer. Cloaked in a flowing dark coat and shrouded by a white veil over the head, the presence evokes themes of mortality and anonymity. The narrow beam of light entering from above accentuates the figure’s isolation, inviting contemplation of death’s quiet inevitability.
Technique & Style
Stachiewicz employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with a thin strip of illumination to model form and create spatial depth. The muted palette of blacks, grays, and a stark white veil heightens the somber mood. Brushwork remains relatively smooth, allowing the subtle gradations of tone to convey the texture of fabric and the atmospheric haze of the room.
History & Provenance
Born in 1858 in a region now within Ukraine, Stachiewicz settled in Kraków where he became a prominent painter and illustrator. After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the National Museum in Kraków, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s representation of Polish visual art from the turn of the century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Piotr Stachiewicz (29 October 1858, Nowosiółki Gościnne, (now Ukraine) - 14 April 1938, Kraków) was a Polish painter and illustrator.
