Niedziela 2019

Lech Jankowski made this small drawing, Niedziela, on an unknown date, using graphite on paper. The surface is heavily worked, creating dense horizontal striations throughout the composition. Imagine Jankowski hunched over the paper, again and again dragging the graphite across the surface in order to conjure forth the figure. I see a pale form kneeling on the ground with their head tilted upwards, as though drinking from an invisible stream. The scene feels melancholy, but also quietly hopeful. A thin line extends from the mouth into empty space, forming a tenuous connection to something unknown. The artist is using a limited tonal range, yet achieving a remarkable sense of depth and texture. This piece reminds me of other Polish artists, like Alina Szapocznikow, who explored the body in ways that are both vulnerable and powerful. Jankowski shares a similar sensitivity to the human form, capturing its fragility with great empathy. There’s something beautiful about how artists can build upon each other's work, creating a conversation that spans generations. Painting is a form of embodied expression that embraces ambiguity and allows for multiple interpretations.