Dimensions: 17 x 25 cm (inside the mat)
Signed by the artist at the bottom: 'KRYNICAWSIWILLANORWA POSYHS CKONEW' and above: '1000ZŁ'
Condition
Losses in the paint layer on the left side of the composition
Biography
Nikifor—a Lemko by origin, associated with Krynica; self-taught, semi-illiterate, amateur painter, one of the most outstanding creators of “naive art.” Information about the artist’s origins and early life is scarce and uncertain. He is remembered as having “always been” a part of Krynica’s folklore. He had no formal education, and mental and physical disabilities hindered his interaction with those around him. Painting served as his link to the outside world. His pictures were created on small pieces of salvaged paper, cardboard, packaging, and notebook pages—sometimes with writing on one side. He drew with pencil and crayon and painted in watercolor the world around him, enriched by his personal imagination and experiences. He primarily painted architectural landscapes of towns that were difficult to recognize, featuring church or town hall towers as focal points. He was fascinated by train stations, viaducts, and trains; he also created portraits and religious scenes. He often signed his works with incomprehensible or only partially legible words written clumsily in capital letters. The subjects he depicted were outlined with strong contours, which he filled with colorful patches. Jerzy Wolff had already drawn attention to the uniqueness and freshness of Nikifor’s painting even before the war. In 1947, he was “rediscovered,” gaining fame, recognition, and wealth.
