Dimensions: 30.5 x 26 cm
signed, dated and described on the reverse: 'FROM THE SERIES | "EPITAPH" | 1982 | MUSIAŁOWICZ'.
Biography
In 1939 he graduated from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under Feliks Szczęsny Kowarski and Leonard Pękalski. He was a member of the "Warsaw" group. Painter, graphic artist and draughtsman not affiliated with any group or artistic orientation.
The artist's first works were devoted to war experiences and destroyed Warsaw. A change in his painting occurred after Musialowicz's trip to Holland in 1956/1957. Influenced by the late works of Rembrandt and van Gogh, he returned to drawing, because it was drawing, as the author emphasized, that allowed him to record reality directly. His work also began to be dominated by white and the color black. The artist made another important trip, this time to France, in 1957.
In the 1940s and 1950s, he created abstract, monochromatic and expressive compositions, sometimes representing reminiscences of the atmosphere of war and occupation. Worth mentioning are the series "Occupation" (1939-1945), "Imaginary Portraits" (1957-72) or "War Against Man" (1959-1964). It was then that the original features of the artist's paintings, such as individual form and saturation with expression and emotion, were recognized by critics.
In the 1950s, a pattern of works was created, to which the artist remained faithful over the following decades. The focal point of the composition became the human silhouette, which acted as a sign. It was around it that the artist created numerous ornaments with thick, sensual textures. Sometimes the works coming out of the artist's studio even took on a relief or semi-relief character. On some realizations one can see inlays of gold or silver filings, which the artist blended into the painting layer.
In the 1970s Henryk Musialowicz turned to nature. It was then that such cycles as "Animalistic Landscape" and "Birth of the Earth" were created. There were also cycles devoted to existential issues such as "Reminiscences," "Family" and "Epitaph." At the end of the years, more and more spatial compositions appeared, which the artist created using a combination of numerous separate elements. Sometimes intensely polychrome, they resembled impressive totems.
The artist took part in more than 100 solo exhibitions and 250 group exhibitions at home and abroad. His works were presented to the public in Geneva, Paris, New York, London, Rome and Toronto, among others. He has been awarded numerous prizes for his work, such as the Medal of "Merit to Culture Gloria Artist" and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Rebirth of Poland. In 2002, a retrospective exhibition was held at the National Museum in Poznan.
