Krynicki NIKIFOR (1895-1968), Interior of the Orthodox Church
watercolor, paper, pencil
20 x 16.5 cm
Author's description at the bottom
Nikifor - related to Krynica Lemko, self-taught, semi-alphabet, amateur painter, one of the most outstanding creators of "naive art". Knowledge of the artist's origin and youth is sparse and uncertain. He is remembered as an indispensable part of the folklore of Krynica. He had no education, mental and physical disabilities hindered his contact with the outside world. The link to the outside world for him was painting. His paintings were created on small formats of acquired paper, cardboard boxes, packages, notebook sheets - sometimes written on one side. He drew with pencil, crayon, painted with watercolor the world around him, enriched by his personal fantasy and experiences. He primarily painted architectural landscapes of hard-to-recognize towns with accents in the form of church or town hall towers. He was fascinated by railway stations, viaducts and trains; he also created portraits and religious scenes. Among his most coveted works are those in which he depicted himself as an idealized artist, dressed in an elegant suit, wearing a hat and carrying a briefcase. He often signed his works with unintelligible or partially legible words written in clumsy capital letters. The subject he depicted was outlined with strong contours, which he filled in with colorful spots. His work was popularized by Cracow-based art historian, writer and philosopher Andrzej Banach, who, in addition to providing Nikifor with assistance, wrote several books dedicated to the artist, and together with his wife organized the painter's most important exhibitions both in Poland and abroad, which significantly contributed to the recognition of his work.
