The decision coincides with the 160th anniversary of her birth and 85th anniversary of her death.
A pioneer of modernist portraiture
Born in Kraków in 1865, Boznańska studied art in Munich, where she gained recognition for her ethereal style and delicate, layered brushwork. Rather than painting en plein air, she favored the private world of her studio, often depicting figures against subdued backgrounds. Her portraits—ranging from children and family friends to commissioned sitters—reveal a keen ability to capture the hidden depth of her subjects.
Boznańska’s paintings were exhibited widely across Europe and even in the United States. She spent the latter half of her life in Paris, where her work earned awards—including a Grand Prix at the 1937 World’s Fair—and comparisons to the refined tones of James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Despite her success abroad, critics back in Poland were slower to appreciate her muted palette and introspective style.
Later in life, personal hardship and the outbreak of World War II took a toll on the artist. She passed away in 1940 in a Paris hospital, leaving behind a body of work now regarded as a cornerstone of Polish modernist painting. Her immersive portraits—such as the iconic “Girl with Chrysanthemums”—continue to fascinate art lovers and inspire new generations of Polish artists.
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Source: PAP