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Olga Boznańska

Olga Boznańska (1865-1940) painting at an easel in the studio of her home in ul. Wolska 21 in Kraków, ca. 1920. Paper photo, 12.2 x 16.9 cm, National Museum in Warsaw/Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie, Inv. Nr. DI 97315/1

Mediathek Sorted

Media library
  • Ill. 1: Girl in a Hat with a Feather, 1887 - Study of a Girl in a Hat with a Feather, München 1887. Oil on canvas on paperboard, 58 x 44 cm
  • Ill. 2: Monk with Wine, 1887 - Monk with Wine, München 1887. Oil on canvas, 81.5 x 65,2 cm, signed top right: Boznańska Munich 87
  • Ill. 3: Young Woman with a Red Parasol, 1888 - Portrait of a Young Woman with a Red Parasol, 1888, Oil on canvas, 88 x 60 cm
  • Ill. 4: Gypsy Woman, 1888 - Portrait of a Woman (Gypsy Woman), 1888. Oil on canvas, 65 x 53 cm
  • Ill. 5: Florists, 1889  - Florists, 1889. Oil on canvas, 65 x 86 cm
  • Ill. 6: Japanese Woman, 1889  - Japanese Woman, 1889. Oil on wood, 37 x 21 cm
  • Ill. 7: From a Walk, 1889 - From a Walk (Lady in a White Dress), 1889. Oil on canvas, 161.5 x 100 cm
  • Ill. 8: Portrait of Zofia Federowicz, 1890  - Portrait of Zofia Federowicz, 1890. Oil on canvas, 150 x 100 cm
  • Ill. 9: Breton Woman II, 1890  - Breton Woman, version II, 1890. Oil on canvas 53 x 42 cm
  • Ill. 10: In the Orangery, 1890 - In the Orangery, 1890. Oil on canvas, 235 x 180 cm
  • Ill. 11: On Good Friday, 1890  - On Good Friday, 1890. Oil on canvas, 240 x 158 cm
  • Ill. 12: Girl with a Vegetable Basket, 1891 - Girl with a Vegetable Basket in the Garden, 1891. Oil on canvas, 125 x 85 cm
  • Ill. 13: Boy in School Uniform, ca. 1890 - Portrait of a Boy in School Uniform, ca. 1890. Oil on canvas, 180 x 100 cm
  • Ill. 14: Portrait of a Woman, 1891 - Portrait of a Woman, 1891. Oil on canvas, 122 x 80 cm
  • Ill. 15: Woman with a Japanese Parasol, 1892 - Portrait of a Woman with a Japanese Parasol, 1892. Oil on canvas, 65 x 52 cm
  • Ill. 16: Olga Boznańska, 1893 - Kasper Żelechowski (1863-1942): Portrait of Olga Boznańska with a Japanese Parasol, Krakòw 1893, photograph on albumen print, 18,4 x 11,5 cm
  • Ill. 17: In the Studio, ca. 1894  - In the Studio, ca. 1894. Oil on paperboard, 49 x 75 cm
  • Ill. 18: Portrait of Paul Nauen, 1893  - Portrait of Paul Nauen, 1893. Oil on canvas, 121 x 91 cm
  • Ill. 19: Self Portrait, 1893  - Self portrait, 1893. Oil on canvas, 70 x 57 cm
  • Ill. 20: Self Portrait, 1896 - Self portrait, 1896. Oil on paperboard, 55.2 x 42.5 cm
  • Ill. 21: Self Portrait, ca. 1897 - Self portrait, ca. 1897. Pastel on paper, 102 x 65 cm
  • Ill. 22: Woman with a Girl, ca. 1893 - Study of a Woman with a Girl, ca. 1893. Oil on paperboard, 56.5 x 43 cm
  • Ill. 23: Girl with Chrysanthemums, 1894  - Girl with Chrysanthemums, 1894. Oil on paperboard, 88.5 x 69 cm
  • Ill. 24: Woman in a White Blouse, 1894  - Portrait of a Woman in a White Blouse, 1894. Oil on paperboard, 67 x 48 cm
  • Ill. 25: Girl in the Garden, 1896  - Portrait of a Woman in a White Blouse, 1894. Oil on paperboard, 67 x 48 cm
  • Ill. 26: Two Children on the Stairs, ca. 1898 - Two Children on the Stairs, ca. 1898. Oil on paperboard, 102 x 75 cm
  • Ill. 27: Studio in Munich, 1896/98  - Olga Boznańska in her Studio in Georgenstraße, Munich, 1896/98. Paper photo, 12.5 x 9.4 cm
  • Ill. 28: Portrait of Anna Saryusz Zaleska, 1899  - Portrait of the painter Anna Saryusz Zaleska, 1899. Oil on paperboard, 68 x 64 cm
  • Ill. 29: Portrait of Antoni Kamieński, 1899  - Portrait of the painter Antoni Kamieński, 1899. Oil on paperboard, 95 x 49.5 cm
  • Ill. 30: Portrait of a Woman in a Blue Blouse, 1899 - Portrait of a Woman in a Blue Blouse, 1899. Oil on cardboard auf paperboard, 69 x 43 cm
  • Ill. 31: Grandmother’s Name Day, ca. 1900  - Grandmother’s Name Day, ca. 1900. Oil on canvas, 79 x 60 cm
  • Ill. 32: Two Girls, 1906.  - Portrait of Two Girls, Helena und Władysława Chmielarczyk, 1906. Oil on cardboard, 95 x 67 cm
  • Ill. 33: Portrait of Franciszek Mączyński, 1902  - Portrait of the Architect Franciszek Mączyński Franciszek Mączyński, 1902. Oil on paperboard, 72 x 68.5 cm
  • Ill. 34: Portrait of Maria Koźniewska-Kalinowska, 1903  - Portrait of the Painter Maria Koźniewska-Kalinowska, 1903. Oil on canvas, 73 x 53.5 cm
  • Ill. 35: Portrait of August Radwan, 1904/05  - Portrait of the Pianist August Radwan, 1904/05. Oil and tempera on canvas on paperboard, 75 x 80.3 cm
  • Ill. 36: Portrait of Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroń, 1903-05  - Portrait of Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroń (née Grabska), 1903-05. Oil on paperboard, 99 x 68 cm
  • Ill. 37: Portrait of Ludwig Puget, 1907  - Portrait of Ludwig Puget, 1907. Oil on canvas, 47 x 38 cm
  • Ill. 38: Portrait of Jadwiga Papara, 1907  - Portrait of Miss Jadwiga Papara from Lviv, 1907. Oil on paperboard, 117 x 91 cm
  • Ill. 39: Lady in a Red Hat, post 1900  - Portrait of a Lady in a Red Hat, post 1900. Pastel, 75 x 56.5 cm
  • Ill. 40: Young Man in Black, ca. 1900  - Portrait of a Young Man in Black, ca. 1900. Oil on paperboard, 92 x 46.5 cm
  • Ill. 41: Woman in a Brown Dress, ca. 1906  - Portrait of a Woman in a Brown Dress, ca. 1906. Oil on paperboard, 98.5 x 74.5 cm
  • Ill. 42: Bronze Bust, 1902 - Bolesław Biegas (1877-1954): Bust of Olga Boznańska, 1902. Bronze, 52 x 27 x 18 cm
  • Ill. 43: In the Studio in Kraków, 1906 - Interior of the Artist’s Studio in Kraków, 1906. Oil on paperboard, 50.5 x 73 cm
  • Ill. 44: Self Portrait, ca. 1906  - Self Portrait, ca. 1906. Pastel, gouache, chalk on cardboard, 74 x 43.5 cm
  • Ill. 45: Place des Ternes in Paris, ca. 1907  - Place des Ternes in Paris, ca. 1907. Oil on paperboard, 14 x 24 cm
  • Ill. 46: In the Studio, 1913  - In the Studio, 1913. Oil on paperboard, 68 x 44 cm
  • Ill. 47: View from the Krakòw Studio, ca. 1914  - View from the Krakòw Studio, ca. 1914. Oil on paperboard, 50 x 39 cm
  • Ill. 48: Self Portrait, post 1913  - Self Portrait, post 1913. Oil on paperboard, 55.2 x 46 cm
  • Ill. 49: Olga Boznańska, ca. 1913 - Olga Boznańska on the Sofa with a Cigarette in the Studio in her House in ul. Wolska 21 in Kraków, ca. 1913. Photograph, 16.9 x 12.2 cm
  • Ill. 50: Still Life, 1918  - Still Life, 1918. Oil on paperboard, 38.5 x 57.5 cm
  • Ill. 51: Poppies, post 1920  - Poppies, post 1920. Oil on paperboard, 46 x 38 cm
  • Ill. 52: Red Flowers, 1925-30  - Red Flowers, 1925-30. Oil on cardboard, 35 x 25.5 cm
  • Ill. 53: Flowers, ca. 1930  - Flowers, ca. 1930. Oil on wood, 29.5 x 41 cm
  • Ill. 54: Portrait of a Lady, ca. 1922  - Portrait of a Lady with a Threefold Pearl Necklace, ca. 1922. Oil on paperboard, 80 x 65 cm
  • Ill. 55: Portrait of Mrs Drzewiecka, post 1925  - Portrait of Mrs Drzewiecka, post 1925. Oil on cardboard, 50 x 35 cm
  • Ill. 56: Portrait of Miss Ellen, post 1925  - Portrait of Miss Ellen, post 1925. Oil on cardboard, 79 x 51.5 cm
  • Ill. 57: Portrait of Dr. Melania Lipińska, ca. 1926  - Portrait of Dr. Melania Lipińska, ca. 1926. Oil on paperboard, 62.5 x 41.5 cm
  • Ill. 58: Portrait of Miss Syrewicz, 1926 - Portrait of Miss Syrewicz, 1926. Oil on cardboard, 55 x 33.5 cm
  • Ill. 59: Portrait of Julia Rylska, ca. 1930  - Portrait of the writer and translator Julia Rylska, ca. 1930. Oil on cardboard, 69.5 x 48.5 cm
  • Ill. 60: Portrait of Maria Pfitzner, ca. 1930 - Portrait of Maria Pfitzner, ca. 1930. Oil on paperboard, 75 x 46 cm
  • Ill. 61: Portrait of Zofia Kulaszyńska, 1930  - Portrait of Zofia Kulaszyńska, 1930. Oil on cardboard, 47 x 35 cm
Olga Boznańska – Kraków, Munich, Paris
Olga Boznańska (1865-1940) painting at an easel in the studio of her home in ul. Wolska 21 in Kraków, ca. 1920. Paper photo, 12.2 x 16.9 cm, National Museum in Warsaw/Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie, Inv. Nr. DI 97315/1

The whereabouts of a large number of portraits have remained unknown until the present day, either because they are still owned by members of the family or were lost during the Second World War. Others can be found in private collections or were bequeathed to museums. These include the portrait of the dentist, Doktor Woszycki (ca.1896/1899, National Museum in Kraków/Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie), her portrait of the painter and stage designer Franciszek Siedlecki (1867-1934), who began his studies in Munich under Franz von Stuck in 1889 and was one of Boznańska’s friends (1896, Krzysztof Musiał collection), her portraits of the philosopher and writer, Michał Henryk Dziewicki (1851-1928) and his sister, the English teacher, Gertruda Dziewicka (both 1897, Princes Czartoryski Foundation/Fundacja Książąt Czartoryskich), also acquaintances of the painter; a further portrait of Czajkowski (1894) and one of Boznańska’s friend, Irena Serda (1896, both National Museum in Kraków/Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie). All the subjects in the paintings were portrayed in the manner of Paul Nauen, seated in different poses and with a variety of different colour choices.[28]

The artist also continued to paint self-portraits, some relaxed in everyday clothing (1893, Ill. 19), others critical and in black robes (1896, Ill. 20) or self-confident in her painting overalls (ca.1897, Ill. 21). The paintings were a sort of self-questioning. They were made at regular intervals and in quite a large number, in oil or pastel, on cardboard, canvas or paper in different formats, some sketchy, others representative. They may also have been a way for her to try out different forms of self-portrayal. Boznańska showed them in public and sold them too. For example, in 1906 she exhibited the ca. 1897 large format pastel (Ill. 21) along with other works at the League of Polish Artists “Sztuka”/Towarzystwo Artystów Polskich “Sztuka” in Kraków. It was purchased by the then director, Feliks Kopera (1871-1952), for the Kraków National Museum, but landed in the hands of the collector and art critic, Feliks Jasieński (1861-1929) in exchange for another work. Jasieński, who became well-known for his huge collection of Japanese art, occasionally helped Boznańska to sell her work. In the end he donated the painting once more to the National Museum.[29]

Boznańska also continued with her series of children’s pictures. The paintings, “Girl with Sunflowers” (1891, Muzeum Ziemi Lubuskiej, Zielona Góra) and “Girl with a White Handkerchief” (1890/93, private ownership) were followed in 1893 by a study of a seated woman holding her daughter in her arms (Ill. 22).[30] The type of girl with golden hair and striking dark eyes – it also featured in the following year in the “Girl with Chrysanthemums” (Ill. 23) – is generally linked to Velázquez’s portraits of infantas, not because of their exact physiognomy but more for their self-confident gaze and independent personality. Also in 1894 she completed the “Portrait of a Woman in a White Blouse” (Ill. 24), possibly a study for pictures on motherhood. Boznańska’s “Girl” pictures had an influence on Józef Pankiewicz (1866-1940), who was painting in Warsaw at the time, and whose “Portrait of a Girl in a Red Dress (Józefa Oderfeld)” (1897, National Museum in Kielce/Muzeum Narodowe w Kielcach) shows a similar type of girl and was also orientated on Velázquez and Whistler.[31]

 

[28] Illustrations in the exhibition cat. Olga Boznańska, Kraków 2014, no. III.14-21

[29] ibid. page 121

[30] The picture “Study on a Woman with a Girl“ (ill. 22) was originally on the back of the self-portrait in a black robe (ill. 20). It was separated in 1933 on conservation grounds.

[31] Ewa Bobrowska: Olga Boznańska and Her Artistic Friendships, in: Exhibition cat. Olga Boznańska, Kraków 2014, page 73