Rapacki's landscapes
Józef Rapacki (1871-1929) was one of the most popular landscapists of the late 19th and first quarter of the 20th century in Poland. His artwork chiefly includes realistic mood landscapes of the Mazovian region, which follow a trademark convention based on renderings of vast spaces with an occasional distinctive item.
Forest Landscape (ca. 1917) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Forest Landscape presents typical for Rapacki flat lowland landscape with open and far perspective, in all probability painted from nature, realistic in style with no staffage.
Vistula Landscape (1901/1901) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Rapacki started to paint his landscapes at the age of 14. Here we can see lowland river landscape, naturalistic in style, in all probability painted in an open-air setting.
Mushroom Picking (1910/1910) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
In his style he also made references to landscapes presented by artists of the French Barbizon School.
Landscape with Heathers (ca. 1907) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Although the title says it is a Landscape with heathers, the most visible are the birches, which steal all the viewer's attention.
Rapacki was called a painter of birches and lilac heathers as these were his favourite artistic topics.
Campfire in the Forest (1910/1910) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Autumn landscape in pink and lilac tones, with grey-green and brown elements and staffage.
W Tatrach (1865/1865) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Although he was most known for his nostalgic landscapes without staffage, there are some examples of the people appearing in his compositions.
Before Spring (1917/1917) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
He was part of the Pro Arte group, which promoted the traditional approach to the painting.
This approach can be seen in this flat lowland landscape, open and far perspective, in all probability painted from nature, realistic in style with no staffage.
Forest Lake (1926/1926) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Rapacki was a very versatile artist. He used mainly oil painting and watercolor. His artworks were usually luminous, slightly misty, painted with subtle brush strokes, with details of more pronounced texture.
Sand Dune (1923/1923) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
The artist worked also with graphics and book illustrations. He collaborated with Warsaw magazines such as Tygodnik Ilustrowany, Wędrowiec, Świat, Biesiada Literacka.
Pond in the Forest (1921/1921) by Józef RapackiThe Sejm - Polish Parliament
Those lyrical and nostalgic landscapes are usually compared with compositions of another great Polish landscapist - Józef Chełmoński.
Nonetheless Rapacki's paintings are one of the most valuable pieces of Polish art history.
