May 13th is the anniversary of the birth of Teodor Axentowicz, a well-known Polish painter.

The main features of his works were religious ceremonies, folklore celebrations and colors.

Teodor Axentowicz (May 13, 1859 – August 26, 1938) was born to an Armenian family and became one of Poland’s most important painters.

He studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts and, later, in Paris. There, he was inspired by French Impressionists.

He also worked there as an illustrator for well-known French dailies such as Le Figaro.

He became an artist with a unique, individual form of expression and he won a number of artist awards.

His works granted a special place to ethnic and religious motives and folklore. In 1985, Axentowicz became a professor at the Academy of Arts in Krakow.

He enjoyed the appreciation of the family of the Emperor Franz Josef until his death in 1938 and left an impressive and important artistic legacy.

View the collection at the Warsaw National Museum