Studium postaci Marii Jakubowej do obrazu ‘Trzy Marie’ 1865

Józef Simmler created this study of Maria Jakubowa for his painting ‘The Three Marys’ using graphite on paper. The composition is dominated by the draped figure of Mary, whose form is explored through a series of sketches. Notice how Simmler uses line and shading to define the folds and contours of the fabric. These elements suggest a weight and volume that give the figure a sculptural presence, whilst the blankness of the face invites an emotional response as the viewer projects their own feelings onto it. Simmler’s approach reflects a formalist concern with the elements of art and their ability to convey meaning independent of subject matter. The visual language—the interplay of light and shadow, line and form—communicates a sense of gravity and contemplation. The classical arrangement of the composition is disrupted by the incompleteness of the sketches that destabilize traditional representations of religious figures. The figure is not presented as a fixed icon but as a study in form. Through the use of line, Simmler challenges fixed meanings, inviting ongoing interpretation.