The Village of Zawale

In 1882, Adam Chmielowski stayed with his brother Stanisław, who leased an estate of Kudryńce on the Zbruch River. Walks in Podolia and Volhynia inspired the artist to paint numerous landscapes, among which stands out a view of the Zawale estate, property of the Dwernicki family. The composition is dominated by the realistic representation of nature. With a view to emphasizing the vastness of the landscape, Chmielowski painted the scene from a very high viewpoint. The estate, situated on a small hill, can be seen from the edge of a slope, which is not visible here. A cool, narrow palette oscillates between light browns and greens. By eliminating the foreground, the artist has achieved an almost topographical view of the area, reminding of an aerial photograph. The work is regarded as one of the most beautiful landscapes in 19th-century Polish painting.