Sketch for the painting “Potocka in Bakhchisaray”

Ciągliński employs a light‑toned background that isolates the figure, while his handling of color creates subtle contrasts between the white dress, the green scarf, and the red accent. The brushwork hints at the atmospheric effects associated with early Russian Impressionism, and the modeling of forms shows an awareness of chiaroscuro to convey depth.

After its completion, the sketch entered the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in documenting the cross‑cultural influences that shaped Polish and Russian art at the turn of the twentieth century.

Created during a period when Russian artists were increasingly drawn to Orientalist subjects, the work reflects Ciągliński’s exposure to the exotic motifs popular in St. Petersburg’s artistic circles. The title references Bakhchisaray, a historic Crimean city, linking the piece to broader European fascination with Eastern locales.