Teodor Axentowicz (1859-1938), "Girl with nasturtiums."

pastel, watercolor, paper glued on cardboard, 68.5 x 50 cm,
signed below: T. Axentowicz

Painter, printmaker, educator, prominent representative of the Young Poland trend in Polish painting, recognized portraitist and artist enamored of Hutsul folklore. Educated in Munich (1879-1882), continued his studies in Paris (1882-1895), often visited London getting acquainted with the work of English portraitists (including T. Gainsborough, J. S. Sargent and J. Whistler). In Paris, he frequented artistic and intellectual circles, visiting the salons of the Godebski family and Sarah Bernhardt, the portrait he painted of this outstanding actress undoubtedly contributed to obtaining many valuable commissions. After returning to Krakow in 1895, he began working at the reorganized School of Fine Arts, which, already transformed into the Academy of Fine Arts, he was rector in 1910 and from 1927 to 1928 . He participated in the organization of the Society of Polish Artists "Art". In 1897 he founded a school of painting for women. He was a member of the Vienna Secession and organized and participated in numerous international exhibitions. His paintings, both portrait and genre, enjoyed unflagging popularity. In his portrait painting, in addition to decorative stylization, he often introduced symbolic motifs; he also painted historical compositions ("Polish Messenger at Henry of Valezius", MNW), and collaborated on the Panorama of Raclawice. In the Hutsul trend, he used the colorfulness of costumes, religious rituals, the beauty of winter scenery ("The Feast of Jordan," "Hutsul Funeral", "Święcone"). He did illustration and poster graphics, and is the author of posters for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th "Art" exhibitions, as well as the cover of the catalog of the 4th "Art" exhibition; he made algraphs and aluminorites.