Visit to a fortune teller

Leopold Loeffler studied philosophy in Lviv, then in 1845 in Vienna at the Academy of Fine Arts. He continued his studies in Munich in 1856. After returning to Poland in 1877, he was appointed professor of the School of Fine Arts in Krakow. He was friends with Artur Grottger, Franciszek Tepa and Juliusz Kossak. He created paintings on genre and historical themes, characterized by precision and meticulousness.

The composition of the watercolour in question is elaborate and does not lack narrative. An elderly woman is sitting at a table, pointing to unfolded cards; a young woman and a man in Sarmatian clothes are at her side. Things are scattered about, and a wall shelf is bending under the weight. There is an interesting situation happening between the cat sitting on the fortune teller's table and the barking dog. The presence of these conflicted animals may have symbolic significance. The cat embodies both positive and pejorative traits, but the latter seem more justified in the scene, referring to duplicity. Independence is in contrast to the dog's attachment, loyalty, and submissiveness. In the Middle Ages, cats were believed to conspire with evil, witchcraft and fortune-telling, hence its presence in the scene. The animal became popular as a pet in the 18th century. For the Gnostics, the relationship between the cat and the dog was the equivalent of the relationship between the character of a woman and the character of a man. It is significant that a woman is attributed with traits discernible in a cat. The noises made by cats in March made them an image of sexual debauchery and fertility. The dog as a symbol of protection, friendship and vigilance, placed next to the woman, seems to show the conflict of opposing attitudes: love and promiscuity.

The interactions between the characters are intriguing in their gestures and gazes. While the fortune teller points over her shoulder at the man behind her, the man, twirling his moustache, looks at the young woman, who bows her head and looks at the dog.

It is impossible to ignore the gloves lying on the table, which have connotations of dignity and nobility and which, together with the cards, create a contrast.

Another noteworthy feature is the technical skill of the watercolour technique, which does not allow for any corrections.

Klara Sadkowska