Roman Kramsztyk (1885 Warsaw-1942 there), Landscape from the South of France

oil, canvas, 73 × 91.5 cm
Signed p. d.: Kramstyk

The National Museum in Warsaw holds an analogous work by Roman Kramsztyk: Southern Landscape, ca. 1930, oil, canvas, 46 × 55 cm, signed p. d.: Kramstyk, inv. no. MPW 810

The composition presented in the catalog is one of several works - landscapes from southern France, painted by Kramstyk in 1920-1922. Works analogous to the one offered in the auction are in museum collections in Israel and Poland, including the National Museum in Warsaw (Southern Landscape, ca. 1930, oil, canvas, 46 × 55 cm, signed p. d.: Kramstyk, inv. no. MPW 8). All these works are characterized by a similar composition and color scheme. The same motif of mountains, a town in the distance and a tree, is shown from different perspectives. They usually lack human figures. However, they are not dead - like the Landscape presented in the catalog - they are alive thanks to vibrating light, uncanny brushstrokes and changes in paint density. Roman Kramsztyk was undoubtedly one of the most prominent artists associated with the international École de Paris community. He created in the spirit of New Classicism, but was also strongly influenced by the paintings of Paul Cezanne, which is evident in both the technique and composition of his works. Echoes of the fascination with the work of the French Post-Impressionist resound clearly in the landscapes painted by Kramsztyk. The presented "Landscape from the South of France" is characterized by architecturally built composition, soft brushstrokes, delicate contours and muted colors, and yet one can see in this one what distinguishes Kramsztyk's painting: affirmation of life, joy, vitality, love for the world and people.