Jaśko of Tenczyn. Study to the Painting ‘The Oath of Queen Jadwiga’ 1867

Józef Simmler created this oil study for his painting, ‘The Oath of Queen Jadwiga’, during a time when Polish national identity was being reimagined under foreign rule. Simmler, active during the era of Romanticism and Realism, often engaged with themes of history, national identity, and moral virtue. Here, Jaśko of Tenczyn is depicted in what seems like a moment of quiet contemplation. The unfinished quality of the study gives us a glimpse into Simmler's artistic process, but also hints at the incomplete nature of identity itself. Consider the weight of history on Jaśko's shoulders. The way the light catches on the gold sleeve, a signifier of wealth and status, juxtaposes with the shadowed face. Simmler seems to be asking us to consider the burdens of leadership and the cost of national duty. In portraying Jaśko, was Simmler trying to capture the essence of Polish nobility? It's a visual reminder of the complexities inherent in representing historical figures and the weight of their legacies.