Self-Portrait in a White Dress is a particularly important work in the oeuvre of Jacek Malczewski, which already in his lifetime aroused considerable controversy. The artist was accused of vanity and a tendency toward “costume mania.” He portrayed himself half-length, with one hand resting on his hip in a knightly gesture and a brush in the other. He is dressed in a beret, a woman’s blouse, and a Highlander’s belt. The portrait is both serious and grotesque. Created within the Symbolist movement, the painting resists a clear interpretation; one can only speculate about the artist’s intentions in this diversity of elements and impressions.
We invite you to explore more about this object in the digital collections catalog of the National Museum in Kraków.
Author of the entry: Wacława Milewska
The National Museum in Krakow
MNK II-b-1762
CC0 – Public domain
