Objects

This small portrait drawn by Artur Nacht-Samborski on a paper napkin shows Helena Zaremba-Cybisowa (1911–1986), called Lena by her relatives.The second wife of Jan Cybis, a friend of Nakht for the Paris years, is a painter whose original work is, wrongly, hidden in the shadow of her husband's output, an outstanding colourist.Perhaps this was since, like him, she remained in the circle of Polish colourism, and perhaps, as she admitted, dividing her time between her professional duties (after World War II, she worked at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, which she graduated in 1936) and family duties – she had two sons, Jacek and Jan (see MPOLIN-M, MPOLIN-M) – she could not always find time for her work. And that is probably why her output is forever connected with the work of her husband, because as Krzysztof Reczek wrote: "Helena Zaremba-Cybisowa’s life appears to be extremely coherent. Creative self-realisation, private and professional sphere, shared with her husband Jan Cybis, the passion for painting and the way of perceiving the essence of art, combined into one stream, like the waters of a river" (Invitation to the exhibition"Painting by Helena Zaremba-Cybisowa"| 2021).

A gift from Jack Cybis

Renata Piątkowska