Portrait of Feliks Jasieński Dressed as a Bedouin 1906 - 1910

This is a portrait of Feliks Jasieński dressed as a Bedouin, painted by Leon Wyczółkowski, and it feels like it was made with a real sense of play. The colours are muted, yet there’s an energy, a lightness to the way the paint has been applied. I love the texture in this piece; the way the brushstrokes are visible, almost like you can see the artist thinking, feeling their way through the process. Look at the lower half of the sitter's garment, see how the pink just bleeds into white? It's gorgeous! The way it melts, the translucence of the paint gives the impression of a silk fabric. The whole painting has this quality; it’s like the artist has allowed the paint to do its thing, embracing the fluidity and chance encounters. Wyczółkowski reminds me a little of someone like Manet, capturing a moment with an honesty that feels both intimate and universal. It's a painting that understands that art is not about answers, but about asking questions, opening up possibilities, and embracing the beauty of imperfection.