Deluge

Jan Wydra (1902-1937) was born in Ciecierzyn near Lublin. He lived in extreme poverty, the experience of starvation and debilitating tuberculosis contributed to his death at the age of only 35. However, he developed his talent and left a valuable legacy.

Potop [Deluge] dates from the early period of Wydra 's work, before he began his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts and before the Brotherhood of St Luke was founded. Thus, it is a prelude to his later artistic activity. The artist refers to the tradition of Christian iconography, treating a well-known theme in a new form.

The scene presented by the artist has its source in the Book of Genesis. The composition is full of human figures, forming one scene divided into three square parts. It depicts humanity rebelling against God, for whom there is no escape, only Noah and his family will be saved, thanks to the ark built on God's order.

In Wydra's composition, two elements coexist - fire and water - burning the city and rain falling on the ground - cleansing the Earth. The whole is accompanied by a storm, which adds drama to the unfolding events and emphasises the danger. The right quadrant, which depicts God's wrath, shows scenes probably relating to the events in Sodom and Gomorrah, as evidenced by the burning city and the terrified people. Almost everyone is naked, which may refer to the haste that accompanied the attempted escape, but may also be a reference to man's original situation in the Garden of Eden, his total exposure to God. The red and blue colours used by Wydra in combination with expressive poses add drama to the depicted scene.

Klara Sadkowska