Portrait of Helena Białynicka-Birula

"Portrait of Helena Białynicka-Birula" is a captivating pastel artwork created by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, more commonly known as Witkacy, in 1930. Currently residing in the Museum of the Middle Pomerania in Słupsk, this piece measures 0.5 meters in width and 0.65 meters in height. nn The portrait draws your attention immediately to the woman depicted, her head turned gracefully to meet the viewer's gaze. Witkacy masterfully uses a warm palette of oranges, yellows, and browns, accented with blues and blacks, to bring life to the subject. The background, a simple tan surface, perhaps the paper itself, allows the woman's presence to take center stage. nn Notice the artist's distinctive style in the expressive lines and simplified forms. He captures not just Helena's likeness, but also a sense of her personality and inner world. The way her eyes engage with the viewer, the subtle shading around her mouth, all contribute to a portrait that feels both immediate and timeless.