Artwork
All Souls’ Day, part one of the triptych
All Souls’ Day, part one of the triptych is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Witold Pruszkowski. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Witold Pruszkowski’s All Souls’ Day, part one of the triptych (1894) is an oil painting that belongs to the Symbolist tradition. The work is part of a three‑panel composition and is currently housed in the National Museum in Warsaw.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman in a white dress seated amid a forest clearing. She is partially hidden by trees and shrubs, while a distant cross rises behind the foliage. Her blurred face and the subdued posture convey a mood of quiet contemplation, echoing the remembrance associated with All Souls’ Day.
Technique & Style
Pruszkowski employs a restrained palette of browns and greens, creating a somber atmosphere. The painting relies on chiaroscuro to model forms and suggest depth, while thick impasto strokes add tactile surface texture. These elements combine to emphasize the spiritual over the literal.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1894, the piece was acquired by the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains in the permanent collection. It represents an early example of Pruszkowski’s engagement with Symbolist themes and his exploration of religious subject matter.
Artist & collection
Artist
Witold Pruszkowski Polish pronunciation: (14 January 1846, Bershad - 10 October 1896, Budapest) was a Polish painter and graphic artist in the Symbolist style.
