Dimensions: 48 x 68 x 13 cm
Signed and dated at the bottom: 'K.Laszczka | 1905'
Literature
cf: Jadwiga Puciata Pawłowska, Konstanty Laszczka. Life and work, Siedlce 1980, item 35-36 (il.)
Biography
From 1885 he studied in Warsaw under Jan Kryński and Ludwik Pyrowicz. Thanks to winning first prize in a competition of the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts, in 1891-96 he stayed on scholarship in Paris, where he studied with Antoine Mercié, Alexandre Falguiere and Jean Léon Gérôme. After returning from Paris, he lived in Warsaw until 1899, then moved to Krakow, where he took the chair of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts, which he held until 1935. In 1900-10, he held artistic patronage of Józef Niedźwiecki's tile and pottery factory in Debniki near Krakow. He was one of the founders of TAP "SZTUKA". In his sculptural work, Konstanty Laszczka succumbed to the influence of Auguste Rodin, which was particularly evident in the sculpted female nudes in the early 20th century maintained in the style of Art Nouveau. He was also involved in monumental and portrait sculpture. Laszczka also created medals, portrait medallions and occasional plaques. The artist's great passion was ceramics, to which he devoted himself more and more over the years. He also painted landscapes, engaged in printmaking and satirical drawing.
