Józef Chełmoński was a Polish painter of the realist school, born on November 7, 1849, in Boczki near Łowicz, Poland. He is famous for his monumental paintings that are now housed at the Sukiennice National Art Gallery in Kraków and at the MNW in Warsaw.
Early Life and Education
Chełmoński's first drawing teacher was his father, a small leaseholder and administrator of Boczki village. After finishing high school in Warsaw, Józef studied in Warsaw Drawing Class (1867–1871) and took private lessons from
Wojciech Gerson. From 1871 to 1874, Chełmoński lived in Munich, where he worked with Polish painters assembled around
Jozef Brandt and
Maksymilian Gierymski.
Artistic Career
Chełmoński's first paintings were done under the influence of Gerson. The works that followed were landscapes and villages. In 1875, Chełmoński went to Paris, where he had many important exhibitions and became known to the art scene. With many orders, the artistic level of his paintings decreased. From 1878 to 1887, Chełmoński visited Poland, Vienna, and Venice.
Some of his notable works include:
These paintings are considered some of the best and most beloved of Chełmoński's works, showcasing his skill in capturing the essence of Polish landscapes and culture.
Legacy
Chełmoński represented the trend in art called "Polish Patriotic Painting". He died on April 6, 1914, in Kuklówka near Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Today, his paintings can be found at various museums, including the
Sukiennice National Art Gallery and the MNW. For more information about Józef Chełmoński's life and works, visit
Józef Chełmoński's page on WahooArt.com or check out his biography on
Wikipedia.
You can also explore more of his paintings, such as Departure, which is available on
WahooArt.com.