This vertical composition presents a self-portrait of the artist reflected in a windowpane. The man is depicted from the chest up, facing the viewer directly. The light source comes from the right. The work is dark, rendered in black and white tones. The outlines are blurred.

The man has thick, dark hair reaching his ears. His forehead is broad and smooth, with thick dark eyebrows. His eyes are dark, slightly narrowed, directed toward the viewer but gazing beyond the frame. His nose is long and narrow; his lips are closed. He wears a short dark beard and moustache. He is dressed in a dark shirt with a standing collar. Light falls on the right side of his face, making it the brightest area of the composition. The left side is in shadow, and the lower portion merges into a dark mass. In the background, a vertical window is visible—the second brightest element in the image.

This self-portrait, shown as a window reflection, is a symbolist meditation on the artist’s spiritual condition, suspended between the inner world and external reality. The layered composition, combining the interior of the studio with the landscape beyond the window, along with soft modelling of light, enhances the visionary quality of the image. The windowpane serves as a symbolic boundary and intermediary between the subjective and the universal. Jakimowicz’s gaze, directed slightly beyond the frame, creates a mood of focus and introspection, suggesting a turn toward an inaccessible yet transcendent realm.

Source: Text by Irena Buchenfeld on the painting Self-Portrait
Audiodescription: Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Expert Content Consultation: Irena Buchenfeld