The professors of the Jagiellonian University 

Jan Matejko created "The Professors of the Jagiellonian University" with oil paints, and the date of its making is unknown. The painting is dominated by the figures of professors dressed in rich robes. The composition centres around the exchange of an object, likely a symbolic key, between two of the figures, framed by onlookers. The artwork is structured around a play of textures, and the deep shadows and highlights on the clothing create a sense of depth and materiality. Here, Matejko uses the formal qualities of painting to construct a narrative about knowledge, power, and historical continuity. The dark background allows the figures to emerge with a strong presence. The use of a semiotic system of clothing and objects, the artwork communicates ideas about institutional authority and academic tradition. The work creates a space for the viewer to engage with questions of cultural memory and national identity, demonstrating that a painting is not just an aesthetic object but a site of ongoing interpretation.