Teodor Axentowicz, HOLY JORDAN. JORDAN PROCESSION, ca. 1910

64,0 x 87,0cm - watercolor, gouache, crayon, cardboard on cardboard signed on the left: TAxentowicz

On the back l.g. sticker (print, typescript, stamp): Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie | R. 1939 | No. 238 | Autor WYSTAWA POŚMIERTNA T. AXENTOWICZ | Address... | Work Procession | Execution watercolor | price ...



Exhibition painting:

- Catalog of the posthumous exhibition of Teodor Axentowicz, Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Cracow, Cracow 1938, cat. no. 238.



Teodor Axentowicz was one of the first Polish artists to paint pictures of Hutsul life, so popular later. The first composition Funeral in Ruthenia (1882) was created while the artist was still in Munich, while the next ones, Kolomyjka (1895) and Rite of Jordan (1893), were painted in Paris. These paintings fascinated Western European audiences with their exoticism. This is because they defied the then-fashionable oriental content, showing colorful Hutsul landscapes juxtaposed with harsh winter landscapes.



The Feast of Jordan is thus one of Axentowicz's earliest "Hutsul" compositions. The motif was originally depicted in large oil paintings (1893, 1895: MNP and MNW collections), but due to its popularity, the artist later repeated it in various variants, painted in oil, watercolor or pastels. The work presented here, distinguished by the freedom and freshness of its depiction and excellent characterization of the figure, is probably one of the earlier repetitions of this subject in watercolor technique. A close analogy for the offered work is The Feast of Jordan from the collection of the National Museum in Lublin; compositions of the same format, both exquisitely painted, differ only in minor details.



The Feast of Jordan is a solemn ceremony of water ordination, celebrated in the Orthodox and Greek Catholic Church on Epiphany (Epiphany) Day. By the memory of Christ's baptism it is called "Jordan." The feast is one of the 12 major feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year. It is celebrated on January 19 according to the Gregorian calendar (i.e. January 6 according to the Julian calendar). On this day, in a solemn ceremony, the clergyman immerses the cross in a river or stream, after which he sprinkles the faithful with the water thus sanctified, who then scoop the consecrated water in pitchers and carry it home.

Teodor Axentowicz (Brasov in Transylvania 1859 - Krakow 1938) - painter, pastelist, lithographer - was one of the best known and most respected Polish painters. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Gabriel Hackl, Alexander Wagner, Gyula Benczúr. He completed his studies in Paris, where he then stayed for several years. He participated in the Paris Salons; in 1890 he received membership in the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. During this time, he also made numerous trips to London. In 1895 he returned to Poland and settled permanently in Cracow, appointed professor at the School of Fine Arts there (from 1900 the Academy). He taught continuously at the academy until 1934, serving twice as rector (1910-11 and 1927-28). He was one of the founding members of the Society of Polish Artists "Art", a member of the Vienna "Secession" and a contributor to its magazine "Ver Sacrum". He was especially successful with idealized images of refined ladies and graceful children's portraits. He also painted genre paintings; he was one of the first painters of the Hutsul region and the Hutsul people. He created historical paintings and symbolic compositions related to the passage of time, transience and old age. In his early, Munich period, these were paintings maintained in the spirit of academic realism; his later work was influenced by 18th century English painting and the works of contemporary painters - Boldoni, Whistler, Sargent. His paintings are characterized by decorativeness, elegance, the freshness of a subtle range of colors and delicate Art Nouveau styling. Initially he painted in oil and watercolor, and after 1890 he primarily mastered the pastel technique. He was involved in illustration and lithography, and designed posters for "Art" exhibitions.