Selected works by Stanisław Wyspiański
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Stanisław Wyspiański's versatile talent places him – an artist so strongly associated with Krakow – among the greatest personalities of Polish modernism. His paintings and prints are commonly known, though he was just as passionate about typography and decorative arts. He will also remain in our collective memory as a writer of poetry and dramas. The National Museum in Krakow holds the largest collection of works by Wyspiański in Poland. We encourage everyone to explore our virtual gallery of selected works of the artist – both his most famous works, most widely reproduced and close to the heart of every Pole, and those less popular, but equally outstanding. Stanisław Wyspiański believed that a portrait is the reflection of a moment – he never painted a model, always a particular person. With great tenderness and in their own unique way, the presented images of children capture the charm, innocence and sincerity of these exceptional models. On the other hand, the essence of his numerous self-portraits lay in his desire to depict the psychological role of the passing time. The Krakow landscapes, particularly the views of Wawel Hill, stemmed from his love for his hometown and Polish history. Planty Park at Dawn is one of the few works painted by the artist in oil. As early as during his studies in Paris, it turned out that Wyspiański was allergic to zinc white. It was – among other things – the reason why he began to draw with pastels and why most of his works are made using this particular technique. View of Planty Park is an example of his mastery in capturing the atmosphere of the Krakow landscape – a misty morning with a view of the Wawel Castle. His designs for the wall paintings and stained glass windows in the Franciscan church and the Medical Society House in Krakow constitute an almost tangible proof of the artist's immortality. While visiting Krakow, we can see these places and admire the original works. The painting from the series View of the Kościuszko Mound from the Atelier Window was created by Wyspiański when an illness made him stay at home in Krowoderska Street. He painted this view numerous times, recording the changing weather conditions, time of day and the intensity of sunlight.
The diversity of artistic disciplines undertaken by Wyspiański, his titanic work and artistic achievements – which resulted from just 37 years of his life – win our admiration and respect and place this artist in the pantheon of the most outstanding Polish artists.
Text by Katarzyna Szczygieł and Jagoda Gumińska-Oleksy – Department of Educational Programmes of the NMK -
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