Portrait of Katarzyna Jahn, artist’s sister — History & Facts
In Portrait of Katarzyna Jahn, we see a young woman depicted with a serene expression. The colors are warm, with soft browns and gentle highlights that bring out her features. She is dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit, suggesting a modest lifestyle.
The background is muted, allowing the viewer to focus on her face and expression. The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a common medium for portraits during the 19th century. Simmler uses a realistic style, capturing the details of Katarzyna's face and clothing with precision. The brushwork is smooth, creating a lifelike representation that draws the viewer in.
The dimensions are approximately 60 x 80 cm, making it a medium-sized portrait. Józef Simmler was a Polish painter known for his portraits and historical scenes. This work, painted in the 1850s, features his sister, Katarzyna Jahn, highlighting the personal connection between the artist and his subject. An interesting fact about this painting is that it reflects the Realism movement, which aimed to depict everyday life and ordinary people with authenticity.
Simmler's choice to portray his sister emphasizes the intimate nature of familial relationships in art.
More Artworks by Józef Simmler

Man resting on a bed
Józef Simmler

Mountain landscape
Józef Simmler

Nude studies for the figures of Jaśko of Tęczyn and the man standing behind him for the painting ‘Queen Jadwiga’s Oath’
Józef Simmler

Half-length figure of a boy in profile to the left
Józef Simmler

Half-length figure of young man in a hat
Józef Simmler

Sketch of a nude male
Józef Simmler

Studium rzeźby ‘Wenus Medycejska’
Józef Simmler

Study of Both Hands of the Bishop for the Painting ‘The Oath of Queen Jadwiga’
Józef Simmler

Study of female nudes to figures of three Marys for the painting ‘Three Marys’
Józef Simmler

Nude male study to the painting ‘King David playing the harp’
Józef Simmler






