Size: 26.5 x 41 cm (in light of the frame)
signed, dated and inscribed l.d.: 'Józef Rapacki 1901 | Zakopane'.
on the reverse an expert's report by Roman Zrębowicz dated September 1955
Provenance
private collection, Poland
Biography
He was born in Warsaw, in a family with artistic traditions. His mother, Jozefina, née Hoffman, was a singer, and his father, Wincenty, was an actor, writer and translator. Rapacki's artistic abilities became apparent as a child. He began his education in this field in 1885 at Wojciech Gerson's Drawing Class in Warsaw.It was there that the artist's passion for landscape painting, outdoor expeditions and the study of nature was born, which he developed over the following years of his career. Two years later Rapacki began his studies at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow. In 1888, he returned to Warsaw and continued his studies under the tutelage of Gerson. The years of study in Krakow and Warsaw were a period when the artist was strongly influenced by the innovative ideas of naturalism of Stanislaw Witkiewicz. A turning point in the painter's life was a trip to Munich in 1889. In the circle of the Academy of Fine Arts there he honed his artistic technique. He also reaffirmed his artistic convictions regarding landscape painting, which was surrounded by a cult in the circle of the Munich school. After his studies, he made numerous trips, including to Italy.
After settling in Warsaw, he continued his cooperation with numerous magazines, which he had begun in his youth. As an illustrator, he created for "Tygodnik Ilustrowany", "Wędrowiec" and "Świat". He also illustrated and designed books. He was involved in artistic graphics. He belonged to the Pro Arte grouping. In 1900 he moved to Krakow for health reasons. He stayed in Malopolska periodically until 1907, during which time he visited Zakopane and Szczawnica, where he painted. In 1907 he moved with his wife to the Mazovian town of Olszanka, where he built his house and studio. There he led a very active social life. He revolved in the circle of artistic bohemians, who owned estates in the area, including in Wola Pękoszewska and Radziejowice. His oeuvre consists primarily of landscapes, both intimate and large-scale. Rapacki is described as a master of the Mazovian landscape. In his compositions he combined many currents and ideas developing in European painting at the turn of the 20th century - realism, plein air and impressionism. He influenced a wide range of Polish landscape painters inspired by his work.
