The Tribute Money (triptych) right 

Jacek Malczewski created this oil painting, a segment from "The Tribute Money" triptych, around the turn of the 20th century. Here we see a self-portrait, placing the artist himself within a symbolic landscape teeming with social and political undertones. Malczewski was Polish, painting at a time when Poland was partitioned and under foreign rule. Notice the figure is formally dressed, standing in defiance against a backdrop of indistinct, burdened figures. The reference to the "Tribute Money" alludes to themes of obligation and resistance. Is Malczewski commenting on the artist's role in a subjugated nation? Is he highlighting the tension between artistic integrity and the demands of a society under occupation? To fully understand Malczewski's work, one must delve into Polish history, literature, and the art criticism of his time, to understand the cultural context. Only then can we appreciate the painting as a powerful statement about national identity and artistic responsibility.