Dimensions: 115 x 209 cm
Signed and dated along the edge of the canvas l.g.: 'J Malczewski 1908'
other historical titles: Polish Nativity, Stańczyk
The object has an import license from an EU country.
Origins
owned by the artist
From the collection of Jan Tadeusz Jarzyna, Lviv (1926)
family collection, Poland-Germany (from the interwar period to 2022)
Exhibited
Jacek Malczewski jubilee exhibition, Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Lvov, May-June 1926
Exhibition of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Cracow, June-July 1908
Literature
Jacek Malczewski: Reality. Publication on the occasion of the discovery and public presentation of the painting "Rzeczywistość" by Jacek Malczewski, concept and editing by Tomasz Dziewicki, Warsaw 2022
Jacek Malczewski. Return, compiled by. E. Micke-Broniarek, exhibition catalog, National Museum in Warsaw, Warsaw 2000, p. 26 (mentioned and described in the calendar)
Agnieszka Ławniczakowa, Jacek Malczewski. Exhibition of Works from 1890-1926, exhibition catalog, National Museum in Poznań, Poznań 1990, p. 41 (mentioned and described in the calendar)
Andrzej Jakimowicz, Jacek Malczewski and His Era, Warsaw 1970, p. 196 (mentioned in the calendar)
Adam Heydel, Jacek Malczewski, Man and Artist, Krakow 1933, p. 140 (mentioned as "Polish Nativity")
Jacek Malczewski. Printed by Rafal Malczewski. Rotogravure of the National Printing House in Cracow, Cracow [no date], p. nlb. (ill., as "Stańczyk - L'espiègle")
Jacek Malczewski (album), published by Rafal Malczewski, no place or date of publication, in the collection of the Municipal Public Library in Radom, p. nlb. (ill., as "Stańczyk")
Catalog orjentacyjny jubilee exhibition of Jacek Malczewski, Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Lvov, Lvov 1926, cat. no. 121 (as "Reality")
Catalog of Jacek Malczewski's jubilee exhibition (with 14 plates), Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Lvov, Lvov 1926, cat. no. 121 (as "Reality")
Catalog of Jacek Malczewski's jubilee exhibition, Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Lvov, Lvov 1926, cat. no. 121 (as "Reality")
"Tygodnik Ilustrowany" 1914, no. 3, p. 43 (January 17, il., erroneously titled as "Guests", correct title "Reality", p. 45)
Jacek Malczewski. Works. Seriea X. With a foreword by Stanisław Witkiewicz and text by Lucyan Rydel and Teofil Lenartowicz, published by the Salon of Polish Painters, Cracow 1910, p. nlb. (ill.) and plate XL (Rydel's rhymed commentary on the painting)
photograph of the work by Amalia Krieger, collection of the National Museum in Kraków
Report of the Directorate of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Lvov on its activities for the year 1908-1909, Lvov 1908, p. 24 (as "Rzeczywistość")
[W.], Echoes of Cracow (Cracow June 7), "Kurier Poznański", 1908, r. III, no. 132, pp. 1, 2 (as "Reality")
Kazimierz Błeszyński, From Art. Exhibition of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Cracow, "Nowa Gazeta", 1908, r. III, no. 382, p. 2 (as "Reality")
Kazimierz Błeszyński, From Art. Exhibition of the Friends of Fine Arts in Cracow, "Nowa Gazeta," 1908, r. III, no. 337, p. 2 (as (as "Reality").
[W.], From the exhibition of the Society of Fine Arts, "Nowa Reforma", 1908, r. XXVII, no. 291, p. 1 (as "Reality")
Catalog of the exhibition of the "Society of Friends of Fine Arts" in Cracow. June-July 1908, Kraków 1908, p. 12, cat. no. 101 (as "Reality")
Biography
In 1872-75 and 1877-79 he studied at the School of Fine Arts in Cracow, among others with Władysław Łuszczkiewicz and Jan Matejko, and in 1876-77 with Henri Ernest Lehman at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. The artist's formation was influenced by numerous trips to Paris, Munich, Vienna, Italy, Greece and Turkey. An important source of inspiration for Malczewski was native folklore, Polish literature and history, as well as biblical and mythological tradition. He constantly took up patriotic and messianic themes, existential themes, autobiographical themes and themes concerning the dilemmas of artistic creation. Considered the most outstanding representative of Polish Symbolist painting, he was also famous as an outstanding educator. He taught painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow (1896-1900 and 1910-1921), and served as its rector in 1912-1914. In 1897 he became a founding member of the Society of Polish Artists "Art". Malczewski's work was repeatedly presented abroad, appreciated and awarded, including medals at international exhibitions in Munich (1892), Berlin (1891) and Paris (1900).
