Study of a Wing – Study of a Fgure of ‘Inspiration’ from the Curtain for the Municipal Theater in Lviv 1899

Henryk Siemiradzki created this oil on paper study for a theater curtain in Lviv. Look closely and you'll see vibrant blues, greens, and browns giving shape to what appears to be a bird's wing. The rapid brushstrokes and the absorbent paper support a quick and intuitive method. Siemiradzki likely worked swiftly to capture the essence of the wing's form and color, without getting bogged down in detail. We can see the materiality of oil paint. Its capacity to blend and layer is what gives the wing its depth and texture. Such curtain paintings were very popular in the 19th century, and were usually unsigned. This reminds us that in art history, there were lots of blurred boundaries. Siemiradzki was using his painting skills for theatrical and decorative purposes. By bringing fine art techniques to the realm of theater design, he was elevating the experience of the audience and demonstrating the cultural value that could be added to an architectural space.