Henryk Stażewski (1894 - 1988), Painting No. 41, 1978

oil, panel; 35 x 35 cm;
On the reverse:
- signed, dated and described: "no. 41 / 1978 / H. Stażewski".
- sticker: "Regine and Jerzy Milobedzki / Art collection / Do not remove this sticker / Author: Henryk Stazewski / Title: Nr. 41 Yr. 1978 / Dim. 34 x 34 Media: oil on panel / Origin: purchase from author";
- markings in pencil

Provenance:
- purchase from the artist
- private collection, United States

Bibliography:
- Kowalska B., Polska awangarda malarska 1945-1970 , Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warsaw 1975.
- Kowalska B., Henryk Stażewski , Arkady, Warsaw 1985.

Condition:
dampstain in the upper parts of the work, damage to the paint layer in the right side

"In the framework of geometric and optical discipline, which are the rule of Stażewski's actions, there was an element of freedom, a breath of romanticism of value co-creating the artistic innovation [...] of works, derived from the area of physics and mathematics," - characterized Bozena Kowalska. The composition from 1978 perfectly reflects the nature of this statement, but also the fascination with formal experiments present throughout Stażewski's creative work. Thus, we have precisely guided lines, a concise compositional arrangement with a geometric accent and a characteristic reduction of the color palette, resulting in a sublime whole. The year the composition in question was created, a solo exhibition of Henryk Stażewski was held at the Zachęta Gallery in Warsaw. It presented nearly sixty works from 1972-1977. The artist's paintings also take part in the exhibition summarizing the achievements of the group "Abstraction-Création" from the 1930s in Münster and Paris.
The artistic activity of Henryk Stażewski left a significant mark on the development of domestic modern art and such trends as geometric abstraction and constructivism. The artist was an initiator (or member) of: Group of Cubists, Constructivists and Suprematists "Blok", "Praesens", "a.r", as well as the author of relief objects, scenographic designs and posters.