Market Square in Kazimierz

Wojciech Gerson (1831–1901) tied his professional life in Warsaw, where he conducted extensive scientific, cultural and pedagogical activities. He began studying architecture and painting at the local School of Fine Arts. In 1867, he opened a private studio for students, and from 1871 he managed the famous Drawing Class, in which several generations of students received artistic education - including J. Chełmoński, J. Pankiewicz and L. Wyczółkowski. In the years 1849–1853 he co-founded the so-called Marcin Olszyński's group, referred to as the first Warsaw bohemia, bringing together students of the School of Fine Arts. Artists from the circle of Olszyński - a patron of art and photographer, were guided by patriotic ideas related to the desire to renew Polish painting, implemented during artistic activities during trips around the country and wandering around Warsaw. Already during his studies, Gerson and his friends set off on "water-foot journeys", documenting the journey in dozens of sketches in pencil or watercolours. By analysing the drawings, usually precisely described and dated by the artist, one can trace the route of his journey. Gerson travelled to the Lublin region twice; The discussed view, showing the market square in Kazimierz, comes from his second trip in 1853 in the company of M. Olszyński, J. Cegliński and J. Majewski. It led from Warsaw through Przytoczno and Łysobyki to Lubartów, Zawieprzyce and Lublin, and then to Puławy, Bochotnica, Kazimierz and Janowiec. Gerson was one of the first artists who were attracted to Kazimierz Dolny on the Vistula by the beauty of the local locations and the variety of picturesque, painting motifs. Years later, the artist returned to his memories of the town by publishing a series of articles about Powiśle in "Tygodnik Powszechny" (1885). In one of them, he devoted a lot of attention to the Przybyłów tenement houses on the left side of the composition, about which he wrote: "[...] two houses built by two brothers next to each other, in the most decorative style of the end of the 17th century, with only one floor, three windows each - but what about that's for wealth in these tall facies! The artist did not spare his fantasy, he was not poor in talent, full of ornaments in the reliefs of saints".

Anna Hałata