The Tribute Money (triptych) left 

Jacek Malczewski made this section of a triptych entitled 'The Tribute Money' in Poland at the turn of the 20th century. The artwork is compelling, and the title immediately suggests its possible social and cultural context. Malczewski places himself in the foreground with a palette and brush, while Roman soldiers and angelic figures process in the background, a world that may represent Malczewski's experience of Polish society under foreign rule, a society divided between the realms of the earthly and the spiritual. This work may express feelings towards the political divisions of Poland at the time, and the struggle for national identity in a time of occupation. Malczewski, as a Polish artist, inserts himself into this narrative and perhaps creates a commentary on the role of the artist in the process of national identity. To fully appreciate Malczewski's work, we need to consider Poland's complex history of occupations, its artistic institutions, and its cultural aspirations. By researching these areas, we may discover how art reflects and shapes a nation's self-image.