Boy in a visored cap 1923

Tadeusz Makowski painted this portrait of a boy, likely in the early 20th century, using oil on canvas. The loose brushstrokes give the painting an informal, almost sketch-like quality. Look closely and you’ll notice how the visible texture of the canvas impacts the image, especially in the background where the paint is applied thinly, allowing the weave to show through. Makowski has clearly built up layers to achieve a sense of depth, but without losing the immediacy of the paint. The earthy palette and simplified forms lend the boy an almost timeless quality, but it is worthwhile considering this work in the context of painting’s longer history. Oil paint as a medium is of course tied to industrial capitalism, as are textiles. Yet Makowski’s painterly approach suggests a turn away from mass production, toward something more intimate, a focus on individuality. By foregrounding the painting’s own making, it prompts us to consider the role of the artist’s hand. This act of imbuing the artwork with social and cultural significance challenges the distinction between craft and fine art.