Motyw pracy jako główne źródło przedstawień malarskich w realizmie społecznym II połowy XIX wieku

Abstract

This article presents motive of work in Polish painting after 1850 when Social Realism was one ofthe most important styles in art. It presents daily life of poor people particularly at work: craftsmen,merchants, tradeswomen. They are painted as concerned, exhausted and unhappy. Choosing this type oftopics by painters was their reaction for political situation in our country. In that period of time, Polandwas after the fall of the January Uprising. People rejected romantic model and started to head towardsthe vision of positivism. Work started to play an important role in the reconstruction of the country. Itwas believed that thanks to hard work, cooperation of social strata and support for the poorest people itwould be possible to regain independence.Motive of work was used very often by famous Polish artists such as Franciszek Kostrzewski, HenrykPilatti, Aleksander Gierymski and Józef Szermentowski. By their paintings they appealed to the rulingelite so that it would appreciate the hard work made by lower classes and together try to fight for thefreedom of Poland. In this article I present and describe several paintings of Social Realism and focus onthe motive of work in the context of the historical background.