Study of figures for the painting ‘Queen Jadwiga’s Oath’ 1867

Józef Simmler made this pencil study of figures for the painting ‘Queen Jadwiga’s Oath’. In 19th century Poland, historical paintings were a means of preserving national identity during a time when Poland was partitioned and did not exist as an independent state. Here we see studies of male figures, possibly noblemen or knights, who would have been present during Queen Jadwiga’s oath. Rendered in pencil, the figures are caught in various poses, with attention paid to their musculature and posture. One figure is depicted raising a sword, an emblem of power and allegiance. Consider the historical context: in a nation yearning for sovereignty, historical paintings like Simmler's served as powerful reminders of Poland's past glory. They were tools of cultural resistance, asserting a collective identity in the face of political erasure, reminding viewers of a time when Poland was a sovereign nation.