Contains mature content
Figure Studies
The Kiss of the Sphinx
Franz von Stuck
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The Old Truth Lies in Books
Marian Wawrzeniecki
1910 · Oil Paint, Canvas
A provocative and macabre Symbolist work exploring themes of mortality and hidden knowledge.
$129
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Where it works
A bold work with active energy in a warmer tonal register — supports a polished room with depth.
- Often works in
- Library · Study · Office
- Placement
- Strongest on wider walls where it can anchor the room
- Walls
- Best where a lighter wall gives it room to show
- Color notes
- Charcoal black, Terracotta clay
About the piece
Painted in 1910 by Marian Wawrzeniecki, this striking work is a hallmark of Polish Symbolism. The composition features a reclining figure—a woman with a memento mori skull—resting atop the massive pages of a book, suggesting the heavy weight of ancient truths. The bold, dark palette and serpent motifs contribute to a sense of mystery and late-Victorian gothic drama.
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