Milda

The finished painting was first put on display in Munich, at the annual art exhibition that took place in the summer of 1890. It was well critically received and described as ‘lovely to behold, beautifully done, full of sensuality’. A Berlin company printed a reproduction of the painting. The very same year, Milda was showcased at the exhibition of the Wojcech Gerson competition held by the Fellowship for the Promotion of Art, where it won the first prize of 600 silver roubles. In 1891, the year after, Milda was displayed at the Krywult parlour in Warsaw, at the exhibition of the Fellowship of Friends of Art in Cracow, and, most importantly, at the international art show in Berlin, which was ceremoniously inaugurated on May 1 and ran until September 20. The Berlin show was a big event for the Poles, with Milda awarded the Small Gold Medal. In 1893, Alchimowicz’s Milda was featured at yet another major exhibition: the World’s Fair in Chicago commemorating 400 years of the discovery of America and Christopher Columbus (it ran between 1 May until 3 October 1893). At this show, Alchimowicz showcased 5 paintings, of which Milda was put on display in the main hall, next to pictures by Poland’s celebrity painters (Text author Dalia Tarandaitė).