This horizontal painting depicts a group of people gathered on a street in Paris during the evening hours. The colour palette is dark and muted, with soft, blended brushstrokes and a lack of sharp detail. The dominant tones include black, dark browns, navy blues, orange, and yellow.

The figures fill the entire width of the canvas, occupying around three-quarters of its total height. Their faces and silhouettes are indistinct and partially merge into one dark mass. The crowd is gathered around a vertical element positioned centrally in the foreground. This object resembles a broken tree branch, ending at the top in two smaller twigs.

From the crowd, a few individuals can be distinguished. On the left stands an older man wearing a black hat and suit, turned to the right and shown from about the knees up. To his right stands a woman with a small white hat and a round face, dressed in a bright orange coat. Her hat and coat form the most luminous area in the entire composition.

Further to the right are men in dark clothing and black hats. On the far right stands a woman turned sideways (left side facing the viewer), wearing a navy-blue hat and a matching long dress.

In the background, another woman appears elevated above the crowd, possibly being lifted by someone, as she is positioned higher than the rest.

The background figures are painted using loose, expressive brushstrokes. Behind them stand four apartment buildings. From left to right, their colours are brown, golden brown, green, and white. Several windows are lit with warm yellow light. The sky is dark navy blue.

Witold Wojtkiewicz most likely painted this work upon returning to Kraków from Paris, where he had stayed during the presentation of his works at the Galerie Druet. Mi-Carême in Paris portrays a street masquerade traditionally held on the Thursday of the third week of Lent. The painting reflects the artist’s fascination with the city and the vibrant life of its streets.

Source: Text by Ewa Micke-Broniarek on Mi-Carême in Paris, available in the digital collections of the National Museum.
Audiodescription: Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Expert Content Consultation: Irena Buchenfeld