Music – left wing of the triptych 1906

Jacek Malczewski made this panel as part of a triptych called Music; it’s an oil painting, though it’s impossible to know when it was made. I am intrigued by the relationship between the two figures, and the kind of dialogue between them. The colour scheme is quite muted, lending the work a dreamlike quality. The light and shadow play across their faces, creating a sense of depth and volume. The old man’s beard is painted with incredible detail. Look at the way Malczewski rendered each strand, giving it a life of its own! Whereas, the young woman’s face is smooth and glowing and the artist has used subtle gradations of tone to create a sense of volume. I am reminded of Munch, the Norwegian Symbolist. Both artists were deeply interested in the human condition and its darker aspects. The genius of art is that it allows us to explore these questions without providing easy answers.