“This self-portrait by Zygmunt Waliszewski stands out for its bold use of a red turban and the artist's intense gaze, offering a glimpse into his modernist approach to identity and color.”
A striking self-portrait, this painting by Zygmunt Waliszewski captures him in a vibrant red turban, a bold departure from traditional portraiture. The artist’s gaze is direct and intense, drawing the viewer into a personal encounter. Painted in 1929, the work reflects the modernist sensibilities Waliszewski developed during his studies in Kraków and Paris, where he engaged with avant-garde movements and admired masters like Cézanne and van Gogh. The painting's simplified forms and strong, expressive colors suggest a move away from strict realism, aligning with the Kapist movement's focus on color and light. This self-representation is not merely a likeness but an exploration of identity through dramatic costume and painterly technique, showcasing the artist's engagement with both historical artistic traditions and contemporary trends.
- Artist
- Zygmunt Waliszewski
- Date
- 1929
- Location
- National Museum in Warsaw
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The vivid red turban, a central and unusual element of the portrait.
The direct, unwavering gaze of the artist.
The visible brushstrokes, especially in the background and clothing.
The subtle modeling of the face, contrasting with the flatter areas.
1 more detail is waiting.
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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
Heavy the Oar to Him Who Is Tired, Heavy the Coat, Heavy the Sea
Ivan Puni · 1929 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
American Gothic
Okada Saburosuke · 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
Fleeing Ghost
Paul Klee · 1929 · Art Institute of Chicago
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
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
The Eye
René Magritte · 1932 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
The Blue Forest
Max Ernst · 1925 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1910s–1940s
Untitled (Desert Landscape)
Salvador Dalí · 1934 · Art Institute of Chicago
