Felix Michal Wygrzywalski, WINOGRONA

69.5 x 48.8 cm - pastel, cardboard

Signed p. d.: F. M. Wygrzywalski

On the reverse, centrally (in blue crayon): 97 [in circle] | 230 | I; along bottom edge: A VI; also l.d. (in pencil): 300 Kr | [illegible text].



Feliks Michał Wygrzywalski (Przemyśl 1875 - near Rzeszów 1944) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under J.C.Herterich and K.Marr in 1893-98. He supplemented his studies at the Académie Julian in Paris. Already during his studies he traveled to Italy, and after 1900 he lived in Rome for several years. In 1906 he traveled to Egypt. In 1908 he settled permanently in Lviv. In 1909-14 he worked in the local theater as a stage inspector. He traveled to Italy several more times. He was a realist painter; in his earlier period of work he leaned towards naturalism and strong expression. He paid great attention to lighting effects and used a rich, vivid color palette. In his early paintings he often depicted human labor (Burlacy) or dramatic events and social tensions (Strike, Bread for Us Hungry). He also painted portraits, nudes, seascapes, landscapes from Italy and Ukraine. After his trip to Egypt, oriental motifs and themes recurred in his paintings (Prayer of the Arabs, Carpet sellers). He was involved in decorative wall painting, including designing and later creating allegorical paintings for the building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lviv in 1908. He was involved in printmaking, illustrated books and magazines, designed stained glass windows, costumes and theater decorations (including for Peer Gynt, Irydion, November Night).