Girl with a jug

Teodor Axentowicz (1859-1938) is one of the outstanding artists of Young Poland. He was a professor and rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, he organised a painting school for women and was active in the Society of Polish Artists "Art", of which he was a co-founder. His activity concentrated on genre motifs connected mainly with the folklore of the Hutsul Region and portrait painting.

Folk themes appeared in Axentowicz's works during his studies in Munich in the 1880s; he continued them in Paris, in the atelier of E. A. Carolus-Duran, using plein-air sketches made during his trips to the Hutsul Region, in the area of Kołomyja and Jamna. The earliest paintings referring to Hutsul culture, folk customs and rituals include: Pogrzeb huculski [Hutsul Funeral], Kolomyia and Święto Jordanu [Feast of Jordan]. Made in pastel technique, the representation of a focused, pensive Hutsul woman is one of many portrait variants depicting a young country girl with a jug or a thimble. It may be regarded as a preparatory study linked thematically with the Lublin watercolour version of the scene of Święto Jordanu (S/G/45/ML), in which the artist evokes a similar figure. Both wear identical, colourful headscarves and voluminous coats of brown cloth. In their hands, they are holding a green-brown jug in which the faithful took home water consecrated during the feast, believing it to have healing powers and protection against evil forces.

Teodor Axentowicz is considered one of the most outstanding Polish masters of the pastel technique. Using a fine, delicate line and subtle, subdued colour combinations, he was able to convey both the character of folk rituals and the beauty of women.

Anna Hałata