Project : Art in Poland

Wojciech Kossak – ”Śmierć gen. Józefa Sowińskiego na szańcach Woli”

The author of the picture “Śmierć…” is Wojciech Kossak, who is one of the most popular painter in Poland. He was born in 1857 and he died 1942. He travelled around Europe and was in Egypt and theUSA. He studied in Kraków, Munich and Paris.

In his works the influence of his father, Juliusz, is visible. He served in a regiment of Uhlans. This fact gave reason to choose horses as the most important theme of his works, but also he created historical pictures and portraits. He was interested in Napoleon’s epoch, the November uprising and first World War. He had a special technic of painting his pictures. At the begining of his career, he was very successful.

            One of the most popular Wojciech Kossak’s pictures is “Śmierć…”. This picture refers to the November’s uprising, which began on 29 November 1830. After long fights, which had begun in February in 1831, Russian army wanted to take the capital by storm.

It was on 6 September in 1831. One of the defence formations was Wola. There the army was in command of Józef Sowiński. He was a brave soldier, although he didn’t have one leg. He also was one of the participants during the uprising and some time later he took part in Napoleon’s campaign.

The Russian army broke outside the strip of fortification and very fast conquered the next position. In spite of surprise, Russian advantage and numerous desertions, general Sowiński hold out on his position. He perished, but now he is present in Polish strategy.

In hopeless situation, without chances, he fought to the end.

            Picture “Śmierć generała Józefa Sowińskiego na szańcach Woli” presents the main attack of Russian army in Wola. It renders a memorable moment of heroic defence of Wola by gen. Sowiński. This episode we can be found in patriotic literature e.g. “Sowiński na okopach Woli”. The painter presented general’s stoic peace, when he is waiting for death from Russian soldiers. With pedantic precision he painted rampart confirmed by baskets with soil, cannon, Russian soldiers and rifles. In the background we can see a church, which is covered partly by trees.

In this place now there is a park, which has the name of gen. Sowiński.

Sebastian Czech