Young Birches

The painting Young Birches was created before Stanisław Witkiewicz’s (1851-1915) departure to take the cure at Laurana. The close-up, as if accidental framing of the composition concentrates the viewer’s attention on the charm of forest nature. A sun-drenched flowery meadow contrasts with dark parts showing the forest. Vertical accents are outlined by a cluster of young, slender birch trees in the middle of the meadow and a single trunk, visible in the foreground to the left. The realistic technique has been superficially subjected to adaption with Impressionistic tendencies involving, among other things, the sketch-like treatment of the surface of the meadow and the brightening of the palette. The landscape was created as a birthday present for Maria Dembowska, whom Witkiewicz had befriended, who later donated her collection of the artist’s works to the National Museum in Krakow.