The painting depicts a group of children walking toward the left across an open landscape. The children are shown in profile, with their left sides facing the viewer. The colour palette is subdued, dominated by browns and greys. The lightest element in the painting is the horizon line. The composition is blurred, with no sharply defined details. The image is built from large patches of colour.

In the foreground, two rows of children advance. On the left are two figures. The first, likely a boy, has short blond hair. His pale face is indistinct, without any facial features. He touches his face with his right hand, while his left arm hangs by his side. He wears a long brown robe reaching to his ankles. Bare feet are visible beneath the robe, the right foot trailing behind.

Next to the boy, on his right, is another child. Their hair is short or pinned up. The hair colour blends with the skin tone—a mix of red and brown with golden highlights on the face. No other facial features are visible. This child also wears a long brown robe. Their figure is partially obscured by the boy standing beside them.

To the far left, at the edge of the canvas, other children can be seen walking in the distance. They wear long robes that merge with the background.

Behind the front pair, to the right, is a group of three children. Closest to the viewer is a boy with short, light hair. He is smaller and younger than the others. His eyes are closed. He walks with his head bowed and his hands pressed together against his lips. He wears a long, dark green robe. His feet, visible beneath the robe, are shod in dark sandals.

To the right of this boy is another, with short dark hair. Only his figure from the head to the elbows is visible. His face is blurred and without detail. He wears a long brown robe. Next to him is a third child, only partially visible from head to elbows, similarly blurred. This child has dark hair and wears a brown garment.

In the background, between the two groups, are two more children. One, likely a girl, has light-coloured hair and wears a long, greyish robe. To her right stands another child with short hair and a brown outfit. These background figures are loosely sketched with broad brushstrokes.

The ground the children walk upon is dark and empty—brown in tone, it appears muddy. The sky above is filled with heavy clouds in shades of grey, dirty pink, and yellow.

The painting references the historical Children’s Crusade of the early 13th century, during which thousands of children from France and Germany set out for Jerusalem to liberate the Holy Sepulchre from nonbelievers. They never reached the Holy Land. Many perished from hunger and disease along the way; others drowned crossing the Mediterranean or were sold into slavery in eastern markets.

The Children’s Crusade was among the paintings that drew the attention of André Gide and Maurice Denis at the Berlin exhibition of the "Group of Five." A graphic version of the image adorned the title page of the catalogue for Wojtkiewicz’s solo exhibition organised by Gide at Galerie Druet in Paris.

Source: Text by Ewa Micke-Broniarek on The Children’s Crusade, from the digital collections of the National Museum in Kraków
Audiodescription: Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Expert Content Consultation: Irena Buchenfeld