Artwork

Year 1863 – Leave-Taking

Year 1863 – Leave-Taking, by Artur Grottger, oil, 1866
Year 1863 – Leave-Taking, by Artur Grottger, oil, 1866

Year 1863 – Leave-Taking is an oil painting by the Realist artist Artur Grottger. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.

About this work

Overview

Year 1863 – Leave-Taking is an oil painting created by Artur Grottger in 1866. It is part of the National Museum in Kraków's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a poignant scene from the January Uprising of 1863, a significant event in Poland's struggle for independence during the period of partition. A woman stands beside a man, holding a white object above his head, conveying a sense of farewell or blessing.

Technique & Style

Grottger's work, typically associated with Polish Romanticism, here incorporates elements of Realism. The detailed rendering of the figures' clothing and the surrounding environment, such as the stone column and tree, showcases his skill with oil paint.

Context

The January Uprising, the subject of the painting, was a rebellion against the Russian Empire's rule over parts of Poland. Grottger's artwork reflects the political tensions and nationalist sentiments of the time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Artur Grottger

Artist

Artur Grottger

Artur Grottger (11 November 1837 – 13 December 1867) was a Polish Romantic painter and graphic artist, one of the most prominent artists of the mid 19th century under the partitions of Poland, despite a life cut short by incurable illness.