Portrait of Edward Maurizio 1915

Jacek Malczewski painted this oil portrait of Edward Maurizio. The misty blues and greens of the background are like a half-remembered dream, a soft focus, while the figure is rendered in much sharper detail. The paint handling is really something here; you can see where Malczewski has built up layers of translucent glazes. I find it fascinating how he used these different techniques in one painting, almost like he’s thinking through different aspects of representation itself. Look at Maurizio’s hand resting on his leg; the artist has really taken his time here, using lots of subtle brushstrokes and color modulations to create a sense of volume. It’s almost sculptural in its intensity. The way the light catches the knuckles is masterful. For me, this piece chimes with the work of someone like Vuillard, in the way it combines the intimacy of portraiture with an almost abstract exploration of color and light. It’s a painting that invites multiple readings, and that’s what makes it so compelling.