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Zulawski was born in Rome to Polish parents. He wrote to Borchard ‘Would you like to come to my studio and see [several self portraits]? Mornings are best for me.’ Brush in hand, he stands in front of his easel, an imposing presence in his vivid dressing gown. He appears a tall, muscular figure, with a high cheek-boned face and strong neck and hands. Even near the end of his life, he was a powerful presence, moving heavy canvases around his studio. The black lines describing his head, dressing gown and hands suggest a determined character. Yet he also comes across as sensitive. His expressionless lips and the seemingly shut eyes, help reinforce this persona of a ruminative, inscrutable man. Zulawski studied at Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts and won a scholarship to study in Paris.
A 1946 oil painting of the body of Christ lying at the foot of the cross indicates how his work became increasingly semi-abstracted, and compassionate in tone. Later pictures depicted the cosmic dramas of Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel, as well as working men at rest, against barren landscapes.
The Ruth Borchard Collection
Title
Self Portrait
Date
1949
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 97 x W 66 cm
Accession number
PCF132
Acquisition method
acquired by Ruth Borchard as part of the original collection
Work type
Painting
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Self Portrait The Ruth Borchard Collection