Wojciech WEISS (1875-1950), At the well - spring rituals, ca. 1907

oil, board; 33.5 x 32 cm;
Signed l. d.: WW;
On the reverse, an oval stamp with an inscription around it: FROM THE COLLECTION OF WORKS BY WOJCIECH WEISS. THE ARTIST'S HOUSE with facsimile of the artist in the middle; below, number 000588 and number 4 added.

The composition was created around 1907, and depicts the artist's wife with a hat in her hand and three puzzled figures meeting at a well near the Calvary house. The wooden structure lining the spring among the fields appears more than once in Weiss's work. This time, however, the scene is still part of the Young Poland symbolism, the meaning of which one can try to decipher.
Taking into account the numerous folk messages and tales telling of demonic beings inhabiting the depths of the well, it is hard to resist the impression that this composition conceals a multitude of interpretations. As it is known, the well opening is a path leading to the afterlife, it becomes a symbol of passage.
The artist places his young wife at the spring, could it be because water symbolizes fertility and rebirth. Or perhaps it's just a continuation of the tradition of depictions of young beautiful women at the well. Both interpretations are likely.
Finally, we should mention a myth deeply rooted in our culture, according to which the well is a kind of link between the earthly and otherworldly worlds, and the water beating from the deep spring has life-giving power, but also fills with fear and apprehension of demonic forces.
It's also worth mentioning that the well motif particularly fascinated Young Poland artists, to mention Jacek Malczewski's excellent series of paintings based on folk tradition, or Lucjan Rydel's poems dedicated to the poisoned well.