Malczewski's “reality” on the market again. PLN 20 million was previously given for him

“Reality”, an outstanding work of Jacek Malczewski, will again hit the auction at DESA Unicum. After two years of proceedings conducted by the prosecutor's office, the picture will be seen at the exhibition “Jacek Malczewski and his era” from May 30 to June 12, 2025.

Jacek Malczewski's canvas “reality” was conditionally sold in December 2022 for over PLN 20 million; The transaction was one of the highest in the history of the Polish auction market.

The painting “reality” was covered by the MKIDN in the case of the alleged illegal export of the work from the country. In June 2024, the work was “cleared of the allegations”, which was confirmed by the court in February 2025. In March 2025, the DESA Unicum Auction House announced regaining work. Despite the declaration of the desire to exercise the right of pre -emption, the National Museum in Warsaw withdrew from the transaction.

“So we decided to restore this outstanding work back to the market. This is an extremely important moment for us – after more than two years we can not only show it to a wide audience, but also confirm the reliability and transparency of our actions” – says Juliusz Windorbski, president of the supervisory board of Desa Unicum.

Jacek Malczewski's “reality” will be auctioned at the auction on June 12. Earlier, the work will be exhibited with four other paintings of the artist, including “Dantean self -portrait”.

The fate of the painting by Jacek Malczewski “reality,” one of the most valuable works of the 20th century, was unknown for many years. The work was again in the area of ​​Polish culture after 96 years. It was last seen in 1926. Since then, only a black and white photography by Amalia Krieger, a Krakow photographer, who took pictures of paintings collected in Malczewski's studio was confirmed by its existence. The work for many decades remained in the Polish-German family collection from Silesia, which, as part of joining families, moved to Germany in the 1950s. The picture – as resettlement property – went with them. A few decades later appeared on the auction market, staged by one of the family's descendants.

Siliced ​​with symbols and a very personal “reality” was created at the best period of the artist's work. “Malczewski in Baroque composition affected the most important topics that bother him throughout the work: the artist's mission, the patriotic mission of art and romantic and national myths. He presents a multi -threaded scene with a large number of characters symbolizing the fall of the Commonwealth and the insurgent history of a enslaved country,” describes art historian Agata Szkup, president of Da Unicum.

A representative of the present – reality – is the painter himself. He portrayed himself in a black vest and hat with painting disasters. The figures of painting drama gave the features of people close to him. His daughter Julia, wife Maria and son Rafał lent the angels, the Mother of God and the Child.

“Malczewski's popularity results both from his master workshop and extremely original symbolic language, as well as the last presence of his work in collective consciousness – from school textbooks to museum exhibitions. His art still moves and inspires, also contemporary artists,” emphasizes Agata Szkup.

According to the desks from Desa Unicum, the interest in Malczewski's works does not weaken. Last year, “Self -portrait with a skull” reached the price of PLN 4.2 million, establishing a new highest result for Malczewski's self -portrait.

The work of Jacek Malczewski perfectly fits into the flourishing of the painting of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries – a period called the “happy hour” of Polish art. During the June exhibition at the DESA Unicum salon at ul. Beautiful viewers will have the opportunity to feel the atmosphere of this era. Many of these works are museum class facilities, sought after by leading state institutions. In addition to Malczewski's works, works will be presented, including Józef Mehoffer – a leading creator of Polish Art Nouveau, Włodzimierz Tetmajer – the main representative of Chłopomania, and Ferdynand Ruszczyc – an artist whose paintings are extremely rare at auctions. A special event will be – as the organizers of the exhibition and auction emphasize – a show of four works of Wlastimil Hofman – a student and continuator of Malczewski's artistic ideas. The exhibition will also include the work of artists related to the most important centers of Polish art of this period – in Munich and Paris. Wierusz-Kowalski, Streitt, Łosia and Szerner, and Bakałowicz, Merwart, as well as related to the school at Pont-Aven Władysław Ślewiński.

The exhibition “Jacek Malczewski and his era” can be viewed from May 30 to June 12 (Auction Day) at the DESA Unicum salon at ul. Piękna 1A in Warsaw. Free admission. (PAP)

Anna Bernat

ABE/ Miś/