Self – Portrait 

Iwo Zaniewski made this self-portrait in 1987. Zaniewski’s Poland was caught between Soviet influence and the rise of Solidarity, a labor movement challenging communist rule. His painting employs muted earth tones, framing his likeness as if emerging from stone. The exception is a vertical slash of vivid green. Is this a glimpse of nature, or perhaps a symbol of hope cutting through the greyness of political repression? Zaniewski’s gaze, directed slightly off to the side, suggests a sense of self-awareness but also perhaps a yearning for something more. The textures of the paint are rough, conveying a sense of vulnerability. His identity seems caught between the weight of history and the promise of change. This portrait becomes more than just an image of an individual. It captures a nation's longing for liberation, echoing the voices of a generation seeking its own identity.