Frenzy of Exultations

The concept of this work dates back to Podkowiński's stay in Paris in 1889, but the emergence of successive oil sketches and charcoal studies in the second half of 1893 was the consequence of the growing drama of unrequited love in the artist's life. In his vision, Podkowiński elevates erotic ecstasy to an absolute value, regarding it, in accordance with the psychologism current for that time, as the cosmic power and determinant of the human condition. Setting about the execution of the huge painting, he employed the academic method of preparatory sketches that correspond to the final version while differing slightly one from another in size and colour. The painting was shown at the exhibition on 18 March 1894. It was accompanied by an atmosphere of sensationalism and scandal. On the morning of 24 April 1894, 37 days since the exhibition's opening and just before its planned end, Podkowiński came to the exhibition and slashed the painting with a knife. The reasons for this act are unclear. Podkowiński's act of desecration may have contributed to the rumors that the image portrayed a woman towards which the artist had an unfulfilled affection. The damage of the image, and Podkowiński's death soon afterwards fueled the speculation of his death being a suicide. Providing a rationale for this explanation are the traces of cuts on the canvas showing that only the image of the woman was subject to the attack. The object of the artist's feelings could be Ewa Kotarbińska, whom he met during his summer stay in a palace near Warsaw. She was a brunette, but some record that her family saw a similarity between her and the woman in the painting and harshly condemned him. After Podkowiński's death the painting was restored