Jacek Malczewski’s portrayal of Thanatos, the god of death, defies traditional conventions that often emphasized the masculine aspect of this deity. In his formative years as a teenager, Malczewski was profoundly influenced by folk culture, which perceived the concept of death as having a feminine character. This influence is evident in his artworks, where we witness an increasing presence of captivating women with distinctive facial features.

Born in 1854, Jacek Malczewski grew up in Lwów, which is now Lviv, Ukraine, and later studied art in Kraków, Poland. His early experiences in both cities enriched his artistic perspective.

One particular painting from the Raczyński Foundation collection in Poznań offers an intimate glimpse into Malczewski’s interpretation of the passage to the afterlife. In this work, a beautiful angel of death delicately touches the artist’s eyelids.

Within Jacek Malczewski’s oeuvre, we discern a captivating fusion of corporeality, external feminine grace, and sensuality with the symbolic instrument that signifies the departure of a soul. The angel of death, in Malczewski’s hands, serves as a source of solace to the painter. This angel acts as a messenger who does not instill fear because it possesses a visible, tangible form, thereby providing the observer with a familiar anchor in the material world. It enchants with an appearance that soothes and imparts a sense of the natural and the known.

Malczewski’s unique interpretation of Thanatos challenges conventional artistic representations and invites viewers to contemplate the intricate interplay between life, death, and the feminine divine.