“Step into the vibrant studio of Zygmunt Waliszewski as he captures a model, blending classical forms with a distinctly modern, almost theatrical energy in this compelling 1930 oil painting.”
This painting, "Artist with a Model," plunges us into the intimate, somewhat theatrical world of an artist's studio. A figure, presumably the artist Zygmunt Waliszewski himself, stands before an easel, brush poised, while a nude model reclines in a wing chair, her body a study in curves and light. The scene feels less like a formal portrait and more like a snapshot of a creative moment, imbued with a certain playful energy. Painted in 1930, it reflects the artist's engagement with avant-garde movements and his fascination with old masters, evident in the confident brushwork and the classical pose of the model reimagined through a modern lens. The composition cleverly balances the artist's intense focus with the model's relaxed, almost indifferent air, creating a dynamic tension that draws the viewer into their shared space.
- Artist
- Zygmunt Waliszewski
- Date
- 1930
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Location
- National Museum in Warsaw
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The artist's self-portrait, capturing his focused gaze and the palette in hand.
The model's hat, adding a touch of unexpected elegance to her nude form.
The vibrant colors on the panel, hinting at the painting being created.
The distinctive wing chair, providing a comfortable yet formal setting for the model.
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Zygmunt Waliszewski
1897–1936 · PolandZygmunt Waliszewski, a Polish painter and Kapist, honed his craft by copying Old Masters in the Louvre and embracing avant-garde movements across Europe.
Further Works by Waliszewski
Cubist self-portrait
1916 · National Museum in Warsaw
Man with children
1916 · National Museum in Warsaw
Still life with a bottle
1916 · National Museum in Warsaw
Still life with a green bottle
1916 · National Museum in Warsaw
Still life with a portrait
1916 · National Museum in Warsaw
Man in a green tailcoat
1919 · National Museum in Warsaw
Portrait of Ms T.
1920 · National Museum in Warsaw
Amazon.
1921 · National Museum in Warsaw
More works to explore
Beyond Waliszewski: works from the same years.
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
American Gothic
Okada Saburosuke · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
And Man Created God in His Own Image
Ivan Puni · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Straße mit Passanten bei Nachtbeleuchtung
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1927 · Museum Frieder Burda
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Abstraction: Background with Blue Cloudy Sky
Pablo Picasso · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
American Gothic
Grant Wood · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Strange Glance
Paul Klee · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Eye
René Magritte · 1932 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Circus Rider
Marc Chagall · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Lemons on a Pewter Plate
Henri Matisse · 1926 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Untitled (Desert Landscape)
Salvador Dalí · 1934 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Blue Forest
Max Ernst · 1925 · Art Institute of Chicago
