Dimensions: 41.5 x 15 x 9 cm
signed on the back: 'ANTONI KRUCZAŁA'
Biography
Antoni Kruczała came from a large peasant family. He studied at the Antoni Kenar State High School of Fine Arts in Zakopane, but did not graduate. He engaged in carpentry, and also worked as a laborer and land meliorator. He devoted his free time to creativity. Initially he painted in watercolor technique, but later devoted himself entirely to sculpture. In his work he moved from naturalism and imitation of the world to a synthetic representation of reality and a focus on the psychological, spiritual side of the sculpted figures. Kruczała belonged to the Association of Folk Artists and cooperated with the Cracow-based "Millennium" Cooperative of Workers of Folk and Artistic Handicrafts. Kruczała created small sculptures of religious and secular themes, toys, but also did not shy away from monumental realizations, which he donated to public institutions. The sculptor did not use polychromy, covering his sculptures only with varnish, emphasizing the beauty of the wood used - linden, ash, oak or pear.
