Witold Pruszkowski ( 1846–1896 )

Polish artist Witold Pruszkowski lived from 1846 to 1896.

He was born in Podolia, and spent his childhood in Odessa and Kyiv. He received his artistic education first in Paris from Tadeusz Gorecki, and later at the academies of Munich (1869-1872) and Krakow (1872-1875). A student of Jan Matejko.

He made creative journeys to Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy.

He is the author of paintings with scenes from rural life, folk tales and legends, portraits, landscapes, and symbolic compositions. A number of Pruszkowski’s canvases were inspired by the poetry of Slovakia. The works of V. Pruszkowski combine elements of realism, romantic fantasy, lyricism, and mysticism. The influence of impressionism is noticeable in his later works. The most famous works are: “Portrait of Kazimir Bartoszewicz” (1876), “Mermaids” (1877), “Three Wells” (1882), “Eloi Among the Graves” (1892), “Death of Helen” (around 1892). The artist’s paintings were regularly exhibited in Krakow, Warsaw and Lvov. In 1892, he was the chairman of the committee for the construction of a monument to the Polish artist Arthur Grottger.