Kobieta W Stroju Krakowskim 1914

Leon Wyczółkowski made this watercolor painting, Kobieta W Stroju Krakowskim, in 1914, and it feels like a fleeting moment captured on paper. The colors are muted, almost like a memory fading into sepia tones. What strikes me is the fluidity of the medium. Wyczółkowski coaxes the watercolours in such a way that they bleed into each other, creating soft edges and a sense of movement. You can see it in the way the blue of her dress blends with the green of her headscarf. Look at the way the light catches the planes of her face. There’s a real push and pull between the descriptive and the abstract. It reminds me a little of Whistler’s approach to portraiture; an interest in capturing the essence of a person rather than a photorealistic representation. Both artists seemed interested in capturing a mood, a feeling, and the ephemeral qualities of light and shadow. Ultimately, it’s about the process, and the conversation that unfolds between the artist, the medium, and the subject.