Untitled 

This is an untitled work by the Polish artist Zdzislaw Beksinski. We don't have the date of execution, but it is likely this painting was made sometime in the late 20th century. Beksinski lived through both Nazi occupation and Soviet communism in Poland, shaping his worldview and artistic output. This work shows an unsettling skeletal tree-like form emerging from the landscape, rendered in muted browns and oranges, with a barely visible horizon line. His work often depicts apocalyptic scenes and nightmarish visions. We see a society in decay in the face of political and social pressure. Beksinski refused to interpret his own work, leaving it up to the viewer, and rejected modern art. His approach was deliberately at odds with established artistic institutions. Researching the political climate and cultural history of Soviet-era Poland can bring us closer to understanding Beksinski's vision.