Portrait of artist’s three children, Tadeusz, Helena and Beata 1870

Jan Matejko painted this portrait of his three children with oil on canvas. The smooth, controlled brushwork speaks to a traditional art education, but look closer. The children are not depicted in a conventional manner. The rich carpet and fur throw speak to the family's affluence, but it’s the clothing that draws attention. The boy is dressed in a traditional Polish outfit, complete with boots and belt, an overt display of cultural pride and wealth. The girls’ dresses, while more Western in style, are made of expensive silk. The lace trim and decorative ribbons display the time and labor involved in creating these garments. This painting is more than a family portrait; it's a statement of cultural identity, and an ode to the value of craft and material culture. The very act of painting, with its layers of skilled labor, is itself a display of artistry. Matejko elevates both his family and his own profession.