Szkic aktu do postaci księcia Jana Finlandzkiego do obrazu ‘Katarzyna Jagiellonka w więzieniu w Gripsholmie’ 1858

Józef Simmler made this nude sketch of Prince John of Finland as a preparatory study for his painting of Catherine Jagiellonka imprisoned at Gripsholm. Simmler was a Polish painter working in the mid-19th century during a period of national upheaval. The figure is an idealized nude, reminiscent of classical sculpture, but this choice reflects the influence of academic art training, typical for artists of his time. The reference to a Northern Renaissance royal serves to underscore the importance of Polish history at a time when Poland did not exist as a nation. It speaks to a longing for national identity, and perhaps even a veiled critique of the partitioning powers. Understanding Simmler's artistic output requires considering Poland's complex socio-political landscape. Art history provides the means to connect the history of art to the broader history of nationhood and social movements.