Nikifor Krynicki (1895 Krynica Zdrój - 1968 Folusz), In Cracow

crayons, pencil, paper, 21 × 27 cm
at the bottom, author's inscription: "WKRAKÓWAWSIUILCAZ-SZPOWNAWILLASEŁO".

"Nikifor's work escapes all orderly categorization. By convention, we call this type of nugget painting "naive," but exactly in relation to Nikifor's art this term is inadequate. For his art is sophisticated and detailed perfection. We have to "study" Nikifor, look at his paintings repeatedly to try to understand the content and symbolism contained in them. To come to the realization that we will never fully comprehend these - sometimes seemingly trivial - paintings. "Nikifor's naiveté" probably consisted in believing that by painting one can improve the world. A modern, "civilized" person would, of course, immediately greet such an idea with a smile. Except that Nikifor really accomplished it! "Nikifor won the greatest victory over the world: from an enemy he turned into a friend, tamed his surroundings, changed them completely, according to his desires," - wrote Andrzej Banach. -wrote Andrzej Banach." (Zbigniew Wolanin "Nikifor", published by Bosz, 2022, p. 26.)