Wojciech WEISS (1875-1950), Dolce far niente - The artist's resting wife, ca. 1910

Oil, canvas; 64 x 79 cm (light frame);
signed p. d.: WW
On the reverse, facsimile of the artist's signature WW and number 0279.

Can there be anything more relaxing than quiet reading in the garden? The artist gives us the answer by capturing on canvas the moments of blissful repose of his beloved wife, amidst the greenery of the Calvary garden. This painting is painted dynamically, the artist operates with decisive color patches, does not care about details, focusing all attention on the figure of his wife resting on a deckchair. A motif that appears so often in Weiss's work, yet full of freshness and directness of depiction. Irena Weiss, dressed in a white dress, holds a book in her hand and is completely immersed in reading. The artist characterizes her facial features and the sunlight falling on her pinned up hair with remarkable skill, with just a few brushstrokes. In the background, the outline of a Calvary house is visible, and the sharp rays of the sun shine through the branches of the apple tree.
The composition is built from somewhat geometric forms, heavily simplified. The artist follows the path towards modernity and at the same time engages in a dialogue with expressionism.