Alfons Karpiński. From the collection of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola.

Alfons Karpiński (1975 Rozwadów – 1961 Kraków) was a prominent artist in Polish painting, known for his ability to blend decorative elements with traditional trends from the 1920s and 1930s. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (1891-1899) and continued his education in Munich (1903) and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (1904-1907). He moved to Paris, where he attended the Académie Willi from 1908 to 1912 and undertook several trips across Europe. He settled in Kraków, where he created art until his death.

The artist developed a soft, decorative painting style unique to him, but he was especially renowned for his extraordinary portraits of women. These women were often styled as Parisiennes, evoking a sense of intimate boudoir charm, coyly flirtatious and very feminine. As a result, the most famous actresses and women of the time often allowed only Karpiński to portray them. Other characteristic themes included flowers and cozy interiors, which radiated warmth and calmness through the accumulation of various decorative trinkets. Flowers, especially his beloved roses, took on a new dimension in the artist’s painting. He studied a range of tones and color half-tones, endowing the flowers with charm and uniqueness.

The exhibition will showcase the collections of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, presented in their entirety for the first time, along with the latest acquisitions.

The collection comprises over 50 works by the artist, including oil paintings, pastels, watercolors, and drawings from various stages of Karpiński’s artistic journey. Many commissioned portraits required specific sketch studies. Of particular note are the remarkable drawings of female and male nudes dating back to his time in Vienna. The collection also includes sketches made in Paris, culminating in an important painting showing part of his Parisian studio (“In the Room,” 1908). There are also drawings that confirm Karpiński’s fascination with the countryside near Kraków and urban life. By viewing these lesser-known drawings and sketches, visitors have the opportunity to engage not only with the artist’s workshop but also with fragments or even entire concepts of future paintings. The artist painted many male portraits, mainly of the Polish intelligentsia, as evidenced by the valuable painting “Portrait of a Professor” from 1924, the museum’s latest acquisition.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog of the works of Alfons Karpiński collected at the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola.

This exhibition is part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola.