oil, board, 143 x 114 cm
Andrzej Boj-Wojtowicz is an accomplished artist of realistic but symbolically infused compositions. In his work, he alludes to the Bible, Young Poland art and the Italian and Spanish Baroque. To the Victorian tradition of "rigid" group portraiture, Boj-Wojtowicz returns with an excellent understanding of the era. The earthy color palette is associated with the brown of the daguerreotype, the women stand in poses characteristic of the 19th century - together, yet separate, while their crinoline gowns and smoothed hairstyles are catalogued examples of the fashion of the wealthy bourgeoisie and landed gentry, for whom decency must have been a virtue visible at first glance.
