Description:

The mysterious atmosphere of this canvas deprived of a framework is determined by the lighting, kept in the brownish–green colors of the dim, scattered light of the forest. The effect obtained in this way, like in the landscape discussed above, is close to French pre–impressionist painting, which he could have known from the often organized exhibitions in Munich. Sidorowicz, living in Munich since 1873 and five years later again in Vienna, did not lose contact with the country by exhibiting both in the Lviv and Krakow TPSP, as well as in the Warsaw Zachęta or Krywult Salon. It was there, probably, that E. Raczyński bought two works by Sidorowicz, painted in the year of his death.

Zygmunt Sidorowicz (1846-1881) graduated from the Lviv Polytechnic and the Vienna Academy. In 1873 he went to Munich, where a year later he enrolled in the Academy. He shared a workshop with Alexander Kotsis, mentioned earlier. Initially, in his works he dealt with portraits and figural compositions. However, under the influence of Kotsis and Munich art, he devoted himself to landscape painting.

Description of the Painting:

Sidorowicz‘s landscape paints a view of the edge of the forest and meadow. The canvas is almost completely filled with vegetation. The foreground is covered with green grass surrounded by small vegetation at the bottom edge of the painting. It almost forms a boundary for the viewer who becomes a hidden observer. The right side of the painting is filled with small birches, with a hazy view of a distant landscape in the background. The right upper corner of the canvas is filled with a grey–blue sky. The strong colour accent in the centre of the canvas is the bright woman‘s hat with a flower pinned to it, a blue umbrella, a black top hat and a brown piece of cloth, likely a coat. The scenery and presence of these objects bring a anecdotal layer to the painting, inviting the viewer to imagine their owners. The painting is dominated by greens, from fresh to dark, mixed with browns. The colour palette stays within the range of Munich Sauces. The hazy composition of the painting creates a specific mood.