Jozef Swirysz-Ryszkiewicz (1888-1942), Autumn, 1916

oil, painted cardboard; 53 x 78.2 cm;
Signed and dated p. d.: To dear Jul Dunikowski / sincere friend JózSwirysz-Ryszkiewicz 1916

Provenance:
private collection, Cracow

The painting "Autumn" was created during the First World War. Since 1914, the artist served in Jozef Pilsudski's Polish Legions as a lancer in the 2nd Cavalry Squadron of the 2nd Brigade. It is this period in his work that the Dictionary of Polish Artists identifies as significant. He was extremely strongly associated with the army (for example, he was the adjutant of the Minister of Military Affairs, General Kazimierz Sosnkowski). In the year of the painting's creation Swirysz-Ryszkiewicz was promoted to ensign. He also participated in an exhibition of legionary painting. Genre scenes with horses or views of manors, such as in the described work, were popular with the artist. The Dictionary of Polish Artists reads: "Ryszkiewicz often placed actions in the midst of snow and fog, chose the time of dawn or night with moonlight; he drew figures and horses as dark, sometimes blurred silhouettes against the landscape. The work "Autumn" alludes to this style.

Bibliography:
Dictionary of Polish and Foreign Artists Active in Poland (who died before 1966). Painters, sculptors, graphic artists , vol. 9, ed. Biernacka M., Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 2013.