Pawel Wrobel (1913 – 1984), Merry Town, acrylic on canvas, 1973
9500,00 zł
Colorful, dynamic painting by Pawel Sparrow, one of the leading Polish primitivist painters of the 20th century. The work depicts a scene from an amusement park – a chain carousel, a crowd of people, children, a shooting gallery and city buildings in the background. The painting is signed and dated p.d.: Wróbel P. 1973.
Sprzedane
Symbolism
The painting Merry Town by Pawel Sparrow depicts communal emotions. The merry-go-round and the crowd symbolize childhood, the collective experience of joy and the atmosphere of festivity during the communist era. The appearing inscription of the shooting gallery introduces an additional context of entertainment and local color. The work not only decorates, but also documents the social experience of the people of Silesia
Historical context
The painting was created in 1973, at a time when daily life was running parallel to industrialization. Wróbel was a member of the Janowska Group, a group of amateur artists documenting the reality of the working-class districts of Silesia. The painting becomes a record of social rituals, moments of joy and collective participation in mass culture. It is a visual commentary on the realities of communist Poland, in which ordinary events gained meaning through communal experience
| Weight | 2 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 50 × 60 cm |
| Form |
Painting on canvas |
| Materiał |
Canvas ,Acrylics |
| Kolorystyka |
Multicolor |
| Technika |
Acrylic |
| Czas powstania |
1973 |
| Kraj pochodzenia |
Poland ,Silesia |
| Autor |
Paweł Wróbel |
| Style |
Primitivism ,Naivism |
Related products
Epitaph portrait of Jan Czapski (1699-1742), oil on copper, Poland, 1740s.
Fragment of an antiphonary page with illuminated initial, parchment, Europe, 15th century
Gillis van Tilborgh (ca. 1625 – ca. 1678) – workshop or circle, Interior of an inn with backgammon players, oil on duplicated canvas, Netherlands, ca. 1650-1670
Govert Camphuysen (1623/1624-1672) – attributed, Landscape with cattle grazing in front of a hut, oil on board
In front of the village thatched hut, sheep, a cow and a goat are grazing. Next to it, a villager is sleeping under a tree. To the left of the composition, a second scene is visible: a man leading a bull over a small bridge over a stream. In the background is a landscape with trees and gentle hills, and the sky occupies a large part of the painting, building the mood of the whole scene. What draws attention is the exquisite way in which the animals are depicted. This was a specialty of Camphuysen, whose work was inspired by the style of Paulus Potter. Warm, earthy colors dominate - browns, ochres, dim greens and broken yellows. The light is soft, diffused, as if in the early morning or towards evening. The sky has shades of gray, beige and soft pink, suggesting changing weather or impending dusk. The contrast between the bright sky on the left and the darker, more saturated part with the cottage on the right gives the image depth and balance.
Hendrik van Steenwijk II (ca. 1580 – 1649) – circle, Interior of a Gothic church, oil on board, Flemish school, 17th century.
The painting depicts the interior of a Gothic church, executed in the Flemish school of the 17th century, in the circle of Hendrick van Steenwijk i.e. one of the pioneers of perspective painting. The composition, built on an axis leading towards the main altar, shows a monumental interior with pillars, cross-ribbed vaults and side chapels. Figures of the faithful and clergy are visible in the space, introduced to emphasize the scale of the architecture and the mood of concentration.
The painting was made with oil technique on board, in typical Flemish school style. The frame is original, wooden, veneered, with preserved gilt edge.
The composition refers to the solutions used by Hendrick van Steenwijk the Elder and Younger, as well as Pieter Neefs and Bartholomeus van Bassen, developing the genre of architectural painting in Antwerp and Delft.
John Baptist Lambrechts (1680 – after 1731), Genre scene in an inn, oil on board, ca. mid-18th century.
John Baptist Lambrechts (1680 – after 1731), Genre scene in an inn, oil on board, ca. mid-18th century.
Portrait of a nobleman (Sarmacki portrait), oil on canvas, Poland, 18th century.
The portrait, originally rectangular and later cut down to an oval and relined, depicts an elderly man in noble (szlachecki) attire characteristic of the 18th century. The figure is shown half-length, facing frontally with a slight turn of the torso and one hand resting on the hip, which lends the composition a sense of dignity and static elegance.
The face, with mature features such as a high forehead, short, thinning grey hair, and subtle wrinkles — is rendered realistically, with attention to individual physiognomic traits. The gaze is calm and restrained, conveying charisma and composure, as well as an established social standing. This is further emphasized by the impressive noble (szlachecki) attire: a żupan embroidered with gold thread, a dark blue kontusz lined with red fabric, fastened with large gold buttons, and a wide, light-colored sash tied around the hips.
The painting is an excellent example of the so-called “Sarmacki portrait”, emphasizing social class affiliation, wealth, and official position. It stands out for its solid artistic craftsmanship, naturalistic treatment, and the mature age of the sitter.
