Wojciech Kossak, FLIRT AT THE STUDNI, 1920

50.3 x 40.0cm - oil, canvas pasted on cardboard signed l.d. (twice): Wojciech Kossak | 1920

p.d. signature painted over: Wojciech Kossak | 1920



The painting belongs to a series of scenes from the everyday life of the cavalry. The dominant group in it are compositions with soldiers in the company of young country girls. Polish soldiers Wojciech Kossak painted both in contemporary and historical uniforms. They were always accompanied by a horse, the artist's favorite painting motif. With his art, Kossak created the ethos of the Polish soldier - brave and fearless in battle and always warmly received under thatched roofs. In this way, the artist realized his national and independence mission. None of the ladies he painted refused to help the brave soldier. The paintings were meant to awaken national consciousness and encourage service for the glory of a free Poland.

The featured painting is undeniably an excellent example of Wojciech Kossak's virtuosity and freedom of painting. His work enjoyed great success, not least due to the subject matter appealing to the tastes of collectors both in Europe and the United States. Not surprisingly, the artist received numerous commissions for his awe-inspiring compositions and often duplicated them, changing certain details.

Flirt at the Well was painted in 1920 probably in New York, which the artist reached in late September 1920. This was the first of several trips he made overseas between 1920 and 1926. In numerous letters to his wife, he wrote about his quest for fame and fortune and the warm reception among his compatriots, who placed numerous commissions with him.



Bibliography:

- K. Olszański, Wojciech Kossak, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Wrocław 1976, 1982, 1990;

- Wojciech Kossak, Listy do żony i przyjaciół 1883-1942, vol. II: lata 1908-1942, edited by K. Olszański, Cracow 1985.

Wojciech Kossak (Paris 1856 - Krakow 1942 ) - widely known painter, seen primarily as a great battle artist. The son and pupil of Juliusz Kossak, he was educated at the Cracow School of Fine Arts, the Munich Academy and in Paris. In 1895-1902 he stayed mainly in Berlin, working for Kaiser Wilhelm II. He traveled extensively, including to Spain and Egypt, where he made sketches for intended panoramas. In later years, he traveled to the United States several times doing portrait commissions. In 1913 he was appointed professor at the Warsaw School of Fine Arts. During the years of World War I, he served in the military. He was co-author of panoramas: "Raclawice" (1893-1894), "Berezina" (1895-1896), "Battle of the Pyramids" (1901) and sketches for the unrealized "Somosierra" (1900). With temperament and freedom, he created extensively painted dynamic battle scenes, historical scenes, genre scenes and numerous portraits. He was fond of painting horses. His paintings, glorifying the Polish military and the heroism of the soldiers, both ancient and contemporary to the artist, appealed to the patriotic feelings of the public and enjoyed great popularity.