Jerzy Piotrowicz (1943-1999), HIOB, 1998

etching/paper, 29.7 x 36 cm (clear passe-partout)
signed, dated and described under the composition in pencil: "HIOB" 1/30 Jerzy Piotrowicz 98

Painter, printmaker, illustrator. Studied at the Faculty of Painting of the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Poznań from 1966 to 1972.

Piotrowicz's point of reference was the work of the old masters, such as Velázquez, Goya and Rembrandt. The artist took up biblical themes, bringing out the existential dimension. The drama of Job related to the mystery of human suffering found expression in Piotrowicz's evocative painting and graphic compositions. They are linked by a compositional arrangement with the figure of Job in the foreground, facing the viewer. Next to him appear other characters of the parables, hence the titles: "Job and Satan" (1998, oil/canvas), "Job and Neighbors" (1998, oil/canvas), "Job's Temptation" (1998, oil/canvas). Eventually, the artist's identification with Job, whose face - with dark empty eye sockets - takes on the author's features, comes to pass: "Job (Self-Portrait)" (1999, oil/canvas).