Portraif of Maria Koźniewska-Kalinowska 1903

Olga Boznanska painted this portrait of Maria Koźniewska-Kalinowska with oils, teasing out the subtle shifts in tone and atmosphere. I love how the painting seems to emerge gradually through layers of brushstrokes, as if the subject is coming into focus from a hazy memory. I wonder about Boznanska's process and what she was thinking as she worked. Maybe she was trying to capture not just Maria's likeness but also something of her inner life. The color palette is subdued, mostly blues and grays, which gives the painting a melancholic feel, but then there’s that vivid teal of her dress and the flashes of red and pink in the background. It reminds me of a Whistler painting! The brushwork is loose and expressive, especially in the face, where each stroke seems to describe a fleeting expression or emotion. Artists are always in conversation with one another, building on what came before and pushing the boundaries of what painting can be. This portrait embraces uncertainty, inviting us to bring our own interpretations and experiences to the work.