Portrait of Countess T.

Teodor Axentowicz became known as a valued portraitist already during his studies in France and his stay in London. His sources of inspiration were the works of J. Whistler, G. Boldini and J. Sargent. He gained recognition at that time for, among other things, his salon portraits of people from the Paris and London elites. The experience he gained abroad translated into success after his return to Kraków, where he quickly gained fame as the author of refined, idealized images of beautiful ladies, whose charms and charms he could perfectly convey. The artist's activity is aptly described by M. Janoszanka: "'Axentowicz'. The name is like a kind of beauty label with a subtle harmony of pastel colours. [...] The female head is the speciality of master Axentowicz. He painted the beauties of Krakow's aristocracy and patricians. [...] Axentowicz's airily cast pastel line selected only what was beautiful and characteristic from the model, melting negative features in delicate shadows. And always between the figure and the viewer who looked at it, it suspended a kind of ethereal veil of sentiment" (Wspomnienie o Axentowiczu [Memories of Axentowicz]), "Kultura. Tygodnik Literacki, Artystyczny i Społeczny" [Culture. Literary, Art and Social Weekly] 1938, no 37, p. 7).

The artistry of the portrait of Countess T. is determined by a skilfully captured pose, attire suggested only by a delicate line and subdued colour combinations dominated by silvery white, which the artist combined with subtle modelling. The image is one of his numerous compositions made in pastel technique, in which Axentowicz achieved mastery. At one point in his artistic activity, the artist used pastels exclusively, abandoning oil painting. The pastel technique, allowing for a quick process of creation, became a response to the search of many other artists of the time, including: S. Wyspiański, L. Wyczółkowski, W. Weiss and S. I. Witkiewicz.

Anna Hałata