court jester.

by Jan Matejko - this file was uploaded to Wikimedia Commons as part of a GLAM-WIKI partnership project between the National Museum in Warsaw and Wikimedia Polska., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43350542

full title: Stańczyk during a ball at the court of Queen Bona in the face of the loss of Smolensk - Jan Matejko

no piece quite captures how it feels to be the funny friend once everyone leaves quite like the piece referenced above. to be the life of the party followed by untimely news and being the one in the worst mental headspace at the function. definitely been there before. this piece by Matejko has left me stunned from the moment that I saw it years ago and I continue to return to it from time to time.

I think that this piece’s strongest characteristic is its ability to relate to many people. a feeling of melancholy and unease as we watch the subject of this piece slumped into his seat. dark-faced, living a thousand horrors in his mind as many party-goers go on to celebrate in the room just outside him. bright colors envelope Stańczyk’s dress but his face captures all the darkness in the room. he’s abandoned the party.

color-wise, the painting’s contrast between the dark room that Stańczyk sits in against his vibrant clothing and the colorful party in the background give the painting a great sense of balance and provokes my eyes. it reminds me of times when other people thought I was a great time, but really, I was not doing okay; likewise, I think the same. I want to make sure that I’m checking in on the people who I care about regardless of how it seems that they are doing or the role that they play in my life.

with the letter seen spread across the table in a hasty fashion, it seems that Stańczyk has only recently found this letter which has caused him great turmoil. I fear that he will be sat here for too long and that no one will find him for far too long until it is too late to get him out of this spell. could he ever return to the party?

I think the best way to incorporate a my fascinations with this work is to work with a darker, but realistic color palate, and to play with the contrast more to isolate the subject and focus on their emotions.

if you’re reading this, I love you

all praise to the most high.