Teodor Axentowicz (polish, 1859-1938) The Peasant Couple In The Snow

Teodor Axentowicz (Polish, 1859-1938) Peasant Couple in the Snow Oil on cardboard. Signed lower left: T.Axentowicz. Height 48 Width 39.5 cm. In a gilded wooden frame (Height 64 Width 54 cm). In a snowy mountain countryside landscape, a peasant couple consisting of an elderly, dark-haired, bearded man wearing a sheepskin coat, a hat in one hand and a stick as a cane in the other, accompanied by a young girl, a red scarf on her head, wearing a dark coat, is on their way. The painting is a fine example of the artist's fascination with folklore in general, and particularly Hutsul folklore, of the mountain people living in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The artist passionately paints Hutsul motifs in different variations and compositions, both in his oils and pastels, which often depict the blessing of candles (gromnice) or water. There is also a symbolic dimension to this composition: the delicate face of a young girl, further emphasized by the red of her headscarf, contrasts with the hard and expressive features of the aging man, who recurs in the artist's works as one of his favorite models. This opposition leads the viewer to reflect on the innocence and fragility of youth and the passage of time. Teodor Axentowicz (Brasov, 1859 - Krakow 1938) – Polish painter, pastellist, lithographer of Armenian origin; one of the best-known and most appreciated Polish artists. After studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Gabriel von Hackl, as well as Sandor Wagner and Guyla Benczur in 1879-82, he moved to Paris in 1883. There he studied in the studio of Charles Émile August Durant, known as Carolus-Duran, exhibited at the Parisian Salons (he was a member of the Salon of the National Society of Fine Arts from 1890) and made numerous artistic trips, notably to Italy and London. His Parisian career accelerated thanks to his acquaintance with Sarah Bernhardt, whom he portrayed. In 1895, he moved to Krakow where he became a drawing professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, of which he was also elected rector. Co-founder of the prestigious Society of Polish Artists "Sztuka" (Art), he was a member of the Viennese "Secession" and a contributor to its magazine "Ver Sacrum". An excellent portraitist, especially of beautiful women and graceful children, he also painted historical and genre scenes. He was one of the first painters to take an interest in depicting the Hutsul region and its inhabitants. His favourite themes were scenes depicting their costumes, customs and beliefs. Axentowicz was also the author of symbolic representations inspired by transience, youth and old age. At the beginning of his career in Munich, his paintings were in the spirit of academic realism, then, inspired by 18th-century English painting and the works of his contemporaries, notably Boldoni, Whistler and Sargent, he evolved towards a freer style distinguished by a decorative character, elegance, the freshness of a range of subtle colours and a slight touch of Art Nouveau aesthetics.