Woman with a Puppet – Szymon Szuminski | DKJo!

During the next meeting of the One Picture Discussion Club (DKJo!), we will take a look at the work of a prominent Torun painter – Szymon Szuminski.

This event is unique for one groundbreaking reason – for the first time in the history of DKJo! the painting to which we will dedicate the meeting will be admired live, and not on a projector. This was made possible by the kindness and disinterestedness of a Torun collector – Mark Rissmann – who lent us the work “Woman with a Puppet” from his private collection.

Szymon Szuminski was an artist with deep ties to Toruń – he spent almost his entire life in his studio at 33 Szeroka St. His workplace was open to everyone, from local painters to guests “from behind the Iron Curtain.” All those who frequented Simon’s place valued not only the atmosphere of work and art, but also his sense of humor and openness to others. As a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Krakow, he created still lifes, landscapes, genre scenes, portraits and nudes. In his work, among form, color and light, it was color that played the most significant role.

During the meeting:

• We will take a closer look at the painting “Woman with a Puppet,” analyzing the way Szuminski used color to convey the mood and emotions of the work.
• We will discuss how the artist’s style fits into the color trend and how his painting technique, including the way he handled colors, created a unique atmosphere in his works.
• We will consider the symbolism of the puppet and try to interpret the message of the painting in the context of a portrait and genre scene.
• We will talk about Szuminski’s role in Toruń’s artistic community and how his work and personality influenced local culture.
• As always, we will also invite you to discuss together and share your own interpretations and reflections.

The meeting will be hosted by art historian Lukasz Wudarski.