Antoni Kozakiewicz (1841 Krakow - 1929 there), In Szczawnica

watercolor, paper, 22.5 × 31.5 cm in light passe-partout
Signed l. d.: "A Kozakiewicz", below "Szczawnica".

Szczawnica, located in the picturesque Grajcarek valley, at the foot of the Pieniny Mountains. Since the 19th century, it was not only a well-known health resort, but also a place that attracted artists - painters, writers and musicians - looking for inspiration in the landscape and local folklore. Among the artists who visited or were associated with the region is Antoni Kozakiewicz. After returning from Munich in 1900, he settled in Warsaw and in 1905 moved permanently to Szczawnica. Here he painted, designed toys, among other things, and made decorations for an amateur theater. He taught young people, and after 1918 tried to establish a school of folk arts and crafts. For him, Szczawnica, along with the surrounding Pieniny villages, was a source of authentic folklore and inspiration for depicting the daily life of the region's inhabitants. His paintings show his fascination with mountain people, their costumes, customs and the beauty of local nature. The artist contributed to the preservation of the image of the highlanders and the Pieniny landscape in Polish art. Thanks to artists like him, the Pieniny began to function in the artistic imagination of Poles as a place of special charm and national identity.