Adam Styka (1890-1959) - copy according to the artist
Berber couple in love, 20th century. (mid-20th century - probably 1950-1970s)
Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 38.5 x 48.5 cm, 67 x 57.5 cm (with frame)
Signature: none
State of preservation: after conservation
The depicted composition refers to the theme of genre scenes from North Africa, popular in Orientalist painting. In the foreground can be seen a pair of young Berbers in an intimate embrace. A man in a traditional burnus embraces a smiling woman adorned with rich jewelry - a gold ornament on her forehead, earrings and wide bracelets. The woman is clad only in a light, partially slipped fabric, which emphasizes the sensual nature of the scene.
A third figure appears in the background - a woman observing the scene with a slight smile - which gives the composition a narrative and somewhat theatrical character. The whole scene is set against a background of architecture inspired by the North African Maghreb: arcades, columns and bright, sun-warmed walls.
The color palette was based on warm tones of ochre, beige and pinks, juxtaposed with the contrasting turquoise of the outfit of the figure sitting in the background. Characteristic of this type of composition is the decorative treatment of texture - particularly evident in the thicker laid paint in the fabric and architectural parts.
The subject matter and the way in which light and color are handled refer to oriental genre scenes, popular in the first half of the 20th century, which made the work of Adam Styka and his circle famous.
Adam Styka (1890-1959) - Polish Orientalist painter, son of renowned painter Jan Styka. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and in his father's studio. In the 1920s and 1930s he made numerous artistic trips to North Africa and the Middle East (including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt), which became the main source of inspiration for his work.
He specialized in genre scenes and portraits with oriental themes - depicting the life of Maghreb residents, market scenes, horsemen, as well as sensual scenes with women in exotic settings. His works are characterized by decorative colors, soft light and narrative character.
After World War II, the artist settled in the United States, where he continued to paint until his death in 1959.
