Artur Grottger (1837-1867), Romantic portrait of a young woman, 1858

Romantic portrait of a young woman, 1858.
Pencil and crayon on paper.
Dimensions: 42 x 51 cm.
Provenance: Alfred and Maria Tarski, Berkeley, California; later Eva Kristina Ehrenfeucht (USA).

Artur Grottger (1837-1867) was one of the most outstanding Polish painters and printmakers of the Romantic era. He was born in Ottyniów near Przeworsk. He studied in Cracow under Władysław Łuszczkiewicz, and then continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Grottger gained fame for his graphic series, such as "Polonia" and "Lituania," which depicted the dramatic situation of Poland after the fall of the January Uprising.
Grottger's work is characterized by deep patriotic and emotional commitment. His works are characterized by drama and a strong emotional charge, as well as detail in the depiction of human figures and a concern for realism. His portraits are characterized by subtle emotional expression and finesse in capturing the models' states of mind, as can be seen in the accompanying painting.
Despite his short life, Grottger left behind a rich artistic legacy that influenced later generations of Polish artists. He died young, at the age of just 30, which was a great loss to Polish art.