A wonderfully moody still life by Polish artist Irena Rudnicka, painted in Warsaw in 1977.

Fish, fruit, leaves, and small bits of the natural world emerge from a dark, earthy background. It has that slightly wild, slightly strange quality I love in old European painting, with a clear nod to the sottobosco tradition: paintings that celebrate the overlooked details of nature rather than arranging everything into something too perfect.

There is a lot to find here. Little botanical details, organic forms, and quiet moments tucked into the shadows. It feels less like a formal still life and more like something gathered from the forest floor and set down for a moment.

Oil on canvas, signed and dated 1977.

On the reverse is a handwritten family dedication to a little boy named Mikołaj, given to him on his name day during the third year of his life:

“To Mikołaj, in the third year of his life, on his name day, as a keepsake from his great-grandmothers, Władzia and Janina; his grandmothers, Stefcia and Nina; and his grandfathers, Władysław and Wacek. Warsaw, December 6, 1977.” *translation to the best of my abilities

The back also retains the artist’s information and a Warsaw museum stamp.

A beautiful painting on its own, made even better by the fact that its history is still attached.

Measurements: 13 1/2" x 19 1/2" (canvas- not inspected out of frame), 16 1/2" x 22 1/2" (in frame as purchased by Nomadica, with some aging and scratches as expected)