Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski (1849-1915),Friends,1880

Woodcut, 18 x 24 cm in light passe - partout, signed on the plate p.d. "Alfred Kowalski"

Alfred Jan Maksymilian Kowalski coat of arms Wieruszowa (Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski; born October 11, 1849 in Suwałki, died February 16, 1915 in Munich) - Polish painter, representative of the so-called Munich school in realist painting, member and honorary professor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.In his early period he was clearly influenced by Maksymilian Gierymski, but later departed from his artistic concept. He was extremely successful internationally with his small in size but skilfully painted landscape compositions with rural borderland scenery, readily depicted in winter conditions, and enriched with expressive representations of horses and the exotic in the West motif of a wolf against a background of frosty landscape.Deeply rooted in native themes with appropriate staffage, his paintings depicted genre scenes of small settlements and towns, often depicted with humor and a touch of irony (Arrival of a Postal Ambulance, Accident on a Journey), numerous Krakow weddings, departures and returns from hunting, and above all dramatic attacks by wolves on people traveling by sleigh and horses crazed with fear, were highly successful.Historical and battle themes played a lesser role in his creative subject matter, along with portraiture undertaken quite sporadically. In 1903, the artist made a short trip to North Africa, inspiring oriental themes in his work with the appearance of exotic Arab subjects (Bedouins at the Well, With War Orders - Morocco, Before the Mosque). Gradually, however, the painter's artistry became shallow, and his work, best known from exhibitions in German countries, became known in his homeland mainly through reproductions published in magazines. His works were also periodically exhibited from 1869 at "Zachęta", where he had two solo exhibitions (1908, 1935).Wierusz-Kowalski was primarily a participant in many international exhibitions, although outside Warsaw he also exhibited his paintings in Krakow, Lviv and Poznań. He received awards and medals in Munich, Vienna, Berlin, Paris, Saint Louis and Louisville. He also received a large gold medal in 1904 at a national exhibition in Lviv. His paintings were acquired by major European and American galleries and museums.