Boy covering his eyes 

Editor: So, here we have "Boy Covering His Eyes" by Jacek Malczewski. The piece is oil on canvas and what strikes me is how raw it feels, almost vulnerable. What do you see in it? Curator: Vulnerable is a perfect word, isn’t it? The gesture of covering the eyes… It could be shame, fear, or maybe even a refusal to see something awful. I think Malczewski's strength is capturing these universal, complex emotions. What do you think about the style? Editor: I see hints of Symbolism, and the way he renders the light is so evocative. It feels very personal, but open to many readings at the same time. How does it relate to Malczewski’s larger body of work? Curator: Exactly. Personal *is* universal, isn't it? He uses symbolism often to talk about the inner landscape, so in many ways this echoes his other pieces, only it is more pared down, perhaps more direct in its emotional appeal? He returns to this theme of blindness – not literal blindness, mind you – as a motif quite frequently. Is the boy hiding from the light, or from something he fears? Editor: That's interesting – so you see that repeated theme as a key to his inner life. I'm left thinking about what is making this boy hide. Is it something outside, or inside? Curator: Perhaps Malczewski is saying that, ultimately, the distinction doesn't matter. External horrors are internalized, and inner turmoil can blind us to the beauty of the world. Beautiful, really. And haunting, too. Editor: I didn’t see it that way at first, but it feels like a key to so much more of the artist's other works now. Thank you!