Maurycy Trębacz (1861-1941)
Title: Portrait of Mrs. Wulfson of Lodz
Year: 1904
Technique: Oil on canvas (duplicated canvas, new loom)
Dimensions: 106 × 78.5 cm (according to the frame)
Signature: upper left corner, in red paint "Maurycy Trębacz 1904"
Provenance:
Private property - Lodz, before 1939.
Maurycy Trębacz jubilee exhibition, Municipal Art Gallery in Lodz, 1926, cat. 88
Lost during World War II (registered as war loss in the database of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage).
Found in the Middle East, re-identification and confirmation of authenticity (2024).
Confirmation of authenticity: Certificate of authenticity from Connaisseur Gallery Krakow and documentation from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Description of the work:
Subtle and exquisite portrait of Helena Wulfson, wife of Wilhelm Wulfson, a well-known ophthalmologist from Lodz.
The model is shown in an elegant, creamy-white evening gown with lace details, sitting in a dignified pose, with an expression of calm and thoughtfulness.
The trumpeter has masterfully rendered the texture of the fabric, the softness of the complexion and the exquisite jewelry (earrings and necklace), emphasizing the high social position of the portrayed.
The dominant color scheme is kept in tones of beige, white and broken browns, which emphasizes the nobility of the composition.
The light gently models the face and shoulders, directing the viewer's attention to the expressive physiognomy of the model.
The portrait combines the highest level of realistic technique and psychological insight, being one of the artist's outstanding achievements in the field of portraiture.
Description of the woman in the painting:
Hugo Wulfsohn was a very well-known industrialist in Lodz. From his marriage to Henrietta Pukajzer, he had two daughters and a son Wilhelm, who became a doctor, an ophthalmologist. Wilhelm married Helena, née Hoffer (1867-1944), and it is her portrait that most likely appears in Maurycy Trebacz's painting.
Helena was 37 years old in 1904. The model on the canvas, is depicted with a distinguished expression on her face, exuding calm and confidence. Her gaze, directed slightly to the side, suggests some introspection or deep thought. The trumpeter has rendered the emotion with great delicacy, while keeping the dignity of the portrayed person intact. The work has an almost intimate character, which was often a feature of custom-made portraits for families of high social status. Mrs. Wulfson's jewelry - earrings and a necklace - attest to her wealth and high social standing. Her intricately crafted dress adds to her elegance, while her delicate hands and upright figure reinforce the image of a self-conscious woman.
The Wulfson family's wealth and influence allowed them to commission portraits from the leading artists of the time. Trumpeter managed to capture on canvas not only Helen's appearance, but also her elegance and sophistication, making the painting more than a representation of reality - it is a true monument of its era, full of charm and nostalgia.
Historical Notes:
The painting was for decades considered lost as a result of World War II and was listed in the register of war losses of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
A photograph of the portrait was preserved in the Artist's Album (Jewish Historical Institute, ref. A-1066/39).
It was eventually determined that the now-found image is identical to the 1904 original.
Portrait reproduced in the catalog "Maurycy Trębacz 1861-1941: A monographic exhibition" (Jewish Historical Institute, 1993).
Condition of conservation:
The painting underwent professional conservation - it was duplicated and stretched on a new loom.
Overall condition very good. The frame has losses.
"Portrait of Mrs. Wulfson from Lodz" is not only an outstanding realist work, but also a testimony to the tragic history of the 20th century and the triumph of art over destruction.
It represents a unique opportunity to acquire a work of confirmed provenance, reproduced in pre-war and post-war literature.
