Karol (Karl) Witkowski. Children playing with kitten
Lot 169. Karl Witkowski (Polish/American, 1860-1910) oil on canvas, children playing with kitten. 30 x 20 inches. signed lower right, antique gold leaf frame 26-3/4 x 36-3/4 inches. Has some Inpainting. Estimate $500 – 1,500. Bill Hoods & Sons. 12/02/25. Sold $450
W USA aż dwa obrazy Karola Witkowskiego, ucznia Matejki. Witkowski sporo malował podobne ja te cukierkowe prace z dziećmi, czy z dziećmi z marginesu ulicznego, zastrzegjąc sobie czasami na obrazach copyright (jak na poniższym) jako, że jego prace stanowiły ilustracje czasopism amerykańskich. Ceny jego prac są umiarkowane i chyba spadły porównując do tych sprzed kilku lat.
Karol (Karl) Witkowski. The Little Chick, 1907
Lot 281. Karl Witkowski Austrian, 1860-1910. “The Little Chick“, oil on canvas, 1907, signed and dated lower right, illegibly inscribed on tape on upper stretcher bar, framed. 25 x 30 1/8 in. (63.5 x 76.5 cm.), Frame: 32 x 37 x 3 in. (81.3 x 94 x 7.6 cm.). Estimate $2,000 – 3,000. Neal Auction Company. 11/20/25. Sold $1,200
Karol (Karl) Witkowski. Guarding the Flower Basket
Rekordowo wysoko sprzedany obraz Karola Witkowskiego w amerykańskim domu Shannon’s. Być może, obraz ten był reprodukowany w jakimś czasopiśmie, co często miało miejsce w przypadku jego prac. Przyznaję, że obraz bardzo dobrze został namalowany, dobra kompozycja z zwracają uwagę szczegóły, jak np. kolor kapelusza, zmechacone rajtuzy, zmęczone buty, etc. – słowem tonacje brązów włączywczy posadzkę i tło. Do tego kontastujące kolorowe kwiaty. Jeden z najlepszych obrazów Witkowskiego
Lot 162. KARL WITKOWSKI, American, 1860-1910. Guarding the Flower Basket, oil on canvas, signed lower left “K Witkowski”, 21 x 15 in. (53.3 x 38.1 cm.), Frame: 31 x 26 x 3 1/2 in. (78.7 x 66 x 8.9 cm.). Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000. Shannon’s. 10/24/24. Sold $15,000 ($18,750 with bp)
W ostatnich latach oleje Karola Witkowskiego były sprzedawane w przedziale $1,000 – 2,000. Obraz sprzedany w Doyle znacznie przebił ten przedział ale to niezła praca ucznia Jana Matejki.
Lot 61. Karl WItkowski American, 1860-1910. Taking a Break. Signed K. Witkowski (lr). Oil on canvas, 25 1/4 x 30 1/2 inches. Estimate $2,000 – 4,000. Doyle. 10/23/24. Sold $4,750
Bardzo słodka scenka rodzajowa w których specjalizował sie Karol Witkowski, polski malarz, uczeń Matejki, późniejszy emigrant do USA, odnoszący tam sukcesy i publikujący swoje prace w różnych czasopismach. Dużo lepiej moim zdaniem przetrwały jego scenki rodzajowe z dziećmi z marginesu ulicznego, psocące, bawiące się. Obecnie zainteresowanie pracami Witkowskiego jest stosunkowo małe a ceny scylują około $1,000, choć oczekiwania (estymacja) bywa dużo wyższa. Na blogu pokazałem już wiele jego prac, warto się z nimi zapoznać bo to tez kawałek historii polskiego malarstwa. Trzeba przyznać, że udało się Witkowskiemu znaleźć miejsce w swoim zawodzie w USA mógł z tego żyć. Gdyby usunąć w jakiś sposób z obrazu kurę to można by nazwać pracę ‘Boy with chicks’ i taki dwuznaczny tytuł mógłby wywołać spore zainteresowanie.
Lot 264. Karol D. Witkowski “Boy with Hen and Chicks” 19th Century Oil Painting. One oil on canvas painting of a young boy in a dark blue coat and a red hat. He kneels down on the ground to play with a hen and several chicks outside. His head is in profile, facing the chickens at the right. A forest is painted in the background. Karol (Karl) D. Witkowski (1860 -1910) was a Polish-American portraitist and genre painter who painted scenes of daily life in America. Estimate $4,000 – 6,000. Gallery 332. 08/22/24. Passed at starting $1,500
Karolowi Witkowskiemu, amerykańskiemu imigrantowi z Krakowa, udało się wpasować swoje scenki z dziećmi, urwisami, w popularne w USA na przełomie XIX/XX wieku podobne scenki rodzajowe. Artysta odnosił wówczas sukcesy lecz obecnie jest to raczej margienes zainteresowania, nawet wśród Polonii, nie mówiąc o polskich handlarzach.
Lot 115. KARL WITKOWSKI (Polish/American, 1860-1910). The Snowball Fight, signed ‘K. Witkowski’ (lower right); inscribed ‘Gray Litho Po.’ (on the stretcher), oil on canvas, 61.0 x 51.0 cm (24 x 20 1/16 in); framed 90.0 x 80.0 x 9.0 cm (35 7/16 x 31 1/2 x 3 1/2 in).Estimate $1,000 – 1,500. Skinner-Bonhams. 05/22/24. Sold $1,700
Dość typowy olej Karola Witkowskiego, emigranta z pracowni Matejki w Krakowie do New Jersey, USA. Bardzo słodka praca. Artysta podnad 100 lat temu miał zamówienia i cieszył się w Ameryce powodzeniem.
Lot 36. Karl Witkowski Polish/American, 1860-1910. Good Friends. Oil on canvas. American, 19th-20th century, No. 1 gallery sticker lower left. Young boy shushing puppy with paw in his hand. Gold gilt frame with frame sticker to verso. Verso 24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm.), Frame: 34 x 30 in. (86.4 x 76.2 cm.). Selkirk Auctioneers. Estimate $1,000 – 3,000. Sold $1,700
Słynący z podobnych scenek rodzajowych Karol Witkowski, uczeń Matejki. W Polsce jego realistyczne prace mało słyną – za bardzo wtopiły się w nowojorską scenerię. Kostrzewski-tak, Witkowski-nie
Lot 102. Karl (Karol) Witkowski (Polish American, 1860-1910). Newsboys. Oil Painting. Antique 19th century original oil painting on canvas. A figural genre portrait of two New York City newsies, painted in a Realistic style. A popular motif for the artist, who titled similar works, “First Cigarettes,” “First Smoke,” and “Their First Smoke.” Artist signature to lower left K WITKOWSKI, frame also bearing brass name plate to bottom front. Presented in an ornate gilt embellished wood frame. Work Size: 28 x 18 in. Estimate $2,000 – 4,000. Hill Auction Gallery. 04/27/22
Karol (Karl) Witkowski. Boy and Girl with Christmas Tree
Dom aukcyjny podał bardzo precyzyjny życiorys artysty, byłego ucznia szkoły Jana Matejki. Malarz znany w USA głównie z rodzajowych prac przedstawiających głównie dzieci.
Lot 158. Karol Dominik Witkowski (New Jersey, Polish, 1860 – 1910). Boy and Girl with Christmas Tree, oil on canvas, 28 x 20 inches / 71 x 50 cm. SIGNATURE: lower right. Estimate $5,250 – $6,750. Starting $3,200. Broward Auction Gallery. 04/17/22
Karol (Karl) D. Witkowski (16 August 1860, Yazlovets, now Chortkiv Raion – 17 May 1910) was a Polish-American portraitist and genre painter, better known in the US as Karl Witkowski. He painted scenes of contemporary daily life in America. Karol Dominik Witkowski was born to a Polish family in Jazlowiec (Jaslowiec), near Buchach, Czortkow (Podole, Poland, now Ukraine). As young boy he showed unusual talent in making drawings and his parents sent him to school in Chortkiv (12 miles from Yazlovets). In 1879 he enlisted in the Austrian Army (in 19th century southern Poland was occupied by Austria and named Galicia), where he gained popularity by making portraits of his fellow soldiers and commanding officers, including a portrait of General Duke William of Wurttemberg and portrait of Lieutenant Field Marshal Emanuel Salomon Friedberg-Mirohorsky (this army officer also was a genre painter, it is possible, why later in USA Karl Witkowski became genre painter). In 1880 Witkowski left the army and moved to Krakow, where from 1881 to 1883 he studied arts at the Academy of Fine Arts under the directorship of Jan Matejko. Witkowski also studied arts in Munich under Karl von Piloty. Around 1884 Witkowski emigrated from Poland, like many others, and went to America, where he stayed for three years. During that time he created his first famous paintings of young people. In 1887 he left America and arrived in France. In Paris Witkowski studied at the Julian Academy (1887-1888) and continued to work on paintings and portraits. Most of his paintings done there he signed with the added initial of author’s second name (K.D. Witkowski). Some of Witkowski’s painting done in France: Portrait de Tomas Milatycki, Mother with Children.In 1889 Witkowski returned to America and stayed for over 20 years until his death. During those years, besides portraits of the elite in New York City and Newark areas, he made over 200 paintings of young people (mostly newsboys and shoeshine boys), their daily life, at work and at play, often with their pets. The style of these paintings recalls the style of John George Brown to some extent. Most of these paintings were signed “K. Witkowski”. From 1891 until his death his paintings were available for sale at various auctions and picture galleries of New York City area. For some time he had his own studio in Brooklyn, New York (1903).Upon his arrival in the United States in 1884, Witkowski lived in New York City (from 1884 to 1887 and again from 1889 to 1891), later moving to Newark in 1891, and then to Irvington, South Orange, and Vailsburg, Newark. Witkowski died on May 17, 1910, in Newark, from blood poisoning, survived by his wife. Witkowski died at the height of his artistic powers. In 1909 he registered 8 paintings through the United States Copyright Office and in just a few months of 1910 he created and registered 14 pieces more, also in the last months of his life, he exhibited his work at the State Fair of Texas and galleries of New York City. Karl Witkowski painted the elite in Newark and his skills as a portraitist to the wealthy were always in demand. But ironically it was his paintings of newsboys and street urchins in the same city that brought him lasting recognition. His paintings of children are remarkable for their odd combination of sentimentalism and realism. Karl Witkowski as an eminent European artist gave an entirely new study in American newsboy life, his paintings have a characteristic humor and brightness, they are serious or humorous. Karol Witkowski has exhibited his paintings in New York several times each year between 1891 and 1910. His paintings have been exhibited at auctions and galleries of New York, such as: Theodore Stewart’s Sallon, Henry C. Merry Auction, Schenck Art Gallery, P. H. McMahon Auction, WM. B. Norman Auction, James P. Silo Auction, Rohlf’s Gallery, Mathews’s Art Galleries, John Fell O’Brien Art Galleries, Woehr Brothers Auction, Woehr Bros Gallery, John J. Pigot Galleries & Loeser Art Galleries.
Lot 429. A 19th century antique oil on board painting by Karl D. Witkowski (Polish American, 1860-1910) titled “Give Me A Light” depicting a pair of young working class boys lighting a cigarette in an alley. It is signed and titled to the verso with M. A. Newhouse & Son, Inc. label St Louis, MO and presented in an ornate carved giltwood frame. Sight – 27 x 17.5. Provenance Private Collection 84th Street, Brooklyn, NY Estate. Estimate $2,000 – 3,000. Atlanta Auction Gallery. 10/23/21
Dwa oleje polskiego malarza, ucznia Jana Matejki, który wyemigrował do USA malując głównie portrety dzieci z przedmieść, służące do ilustracji czasopism. Dwa takie oleje pojawiły się właśnie w Atlancie, wycenione bardzo nisko (obrazy Witkowskiego osiągały do $10,000). Jako koloryt, podaję na końcu fotografię z domu aukcyjnego na której naocznie można porównać bardzo realistycznie wymiary pracy do…
Karol (Karl) Witkowski. A young boy and girl smiling at eachother, 1900
Lot 515. An antique oil on board painting by Karl D. Witkowski (Polish American, 1860-1910) circa 1900 depicting a young boy and girl smiling at eachother, the boy holding a newspaper and girl holding an apple and bouquet of flowers. It is signed and dated to the upper right and presented in an ornate carved giltwood frame. Sight – 30 x 19.5. Provenance Private Collection 84th Street, Brooklyn, NY Estate. . Estimate $2,000 – 3,000. Atlanta Auction Gallery. 10/23/21
Chyba tylko ja będę zadowolony z wprowadzenia tego obrazu, ani handlarz ani kolekcjoner ani dom aukcyjny. Nawet jeśli Karol Witkowski był uczniem Jana Matejki. Za daleko z USA do Krakowa. Nikogo teraz nie obchodzi amerykański emigrant i jego tam kariera. Nie da się zarobić na tym obrazie w Polsce. Co innego na poprzednim, Wasilkowskim, też na ‘W’.
Lot 956. Karl Witkowsky (Polish/American, 1860-1910). “Young Boy Fishing“, oil on board, signed lower left, an old Christie’s inventory label en verso. Framed. 24″ x 20″, framed 27″ x 23”. Estimate $1,500 – 2,500. New Orleans Auction Gallery. 03/28/21
Polish Art Corner 