Teodor Axentowicz, THE GIRL WITH THE CANDLE

31.9 x 23.7 cm - oil on panel

signed lower right: T. Axentowicz

On the reverse, an illegible oval stamp (presumably from an art supply store) with the following inscription in pencil:
4 | 32 x 24 | MK 80-
next to it, an illegible word in ink.

Teodor Axentowicz (Brașov, Transylvania, 1859 – Kraków, 1938)—painter, pastel artist, and lithographer—was one of the most famous and highly regarded Polish painters. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under the guidance of Gabriel Hackl, Alexander Wagner, and Gyula Benczúr. He continued his studies in Paris, where he subsequently resided for over a dozen years. He participated in the Paris Salons; in 1890, he was admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. During this time, he also traveled to London on numerous occasions. In 1895, he returned to Poland and settled permanently in Kraków, having been appointed professor at the local School of Fine Arts (which became the Academy in 1900). He taught at this institution continuously until 1934, serving twice as rector (1910–11 and 1927–28). He was one of the founding members of the “Sztuka” Society of Polish Artists, a member of the Vienna “Secession,” and a contributor to its journal “Ver Sacrum.” He achieved particular success with his idealized depictions of elegant ladies and his charming portraits of children. He also painted genre scenes; he was one of the first painters to depict the Hutsul region and the Hutsuls. He created historical paintings and symbolic compositions related to the passage of time, transience, and old age. During his early Munich period, his works were imbued with the spirit of academic realism; his later work was influenced by 18th-century English painting and the works of contemporary artists—Boldoni, Whistler, and Sargent. His paintings are characterized by their decorative quality, elegance, the freshness of a subtle color palette, and a delicate Art Nouveau style. Initially, he painted in oil and watercolor, and after 1890, primarily using the pastel technique, which he had mastered to perfection. He worked as an illustrator and lithographer and designed posters for the “Sztuka” exhibitions.