Study of Jacob’s robes for the painting ‘The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ 1864

Józef Simmler made this pencil study of Jacob's robes in preparation for his painting, ‘The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary’. Simmler was a Polish painter working in the mid-19th century, a time of intense national self-definition in Poland under foreign partition. His art often engaged with themes of Polish identity and history. This drawing, though seemingly a simple study of fabric, comes from a larger work rooted in religious and nationalistic fervor. Consider the labor and devotion implied in this careful rendering of drapery, an essential, if often overlooked, component of grand historical paintings. The Immaculate Conception holds deep significance within the Catholic faith, and in Poland, it became intertwined with national identity. Simmler’s focus on the robes is a nod to the importance of clothing in signifying identity, status, and even piety. These robes carry the weight of religious symbolism and cultural identity, linking the personal and the collective. It's in the folds and shadows of these robes that we can see the artist's dedication to craft but also his subtle engagement with broader cultural and religious narratives.