Stanczyk: A Self-Portrait of Our Times
I recently came across the painting "Stanczyk" by Jan Matejko, and I must say, I'm truly captivated by this piece and many others by the same artist. In fact, he may become my new favorite artist, possibly of all time.
I believe Stanczyk represents many of us in these tumultuous times. We often feel compelled to put on a happy face and maintain a cheerful demeanor while, in reality, we're quietly losing our sanity and suffering in silence. The outlook for people these days is far from optimistic. In the post-pandemic era, we're now grappling with war, inflation, and the potential loss of all jobs and humanity once AI takes over. We are all Stanczyk – sitting, slumped in our chairs, burdened by this realization as others around us dance away, seemingly oblivious to the impending doom. We feel helpless to change our fate.
We are all Stanczyk.
Note: If you ever get the chance, check out Matejko's paintings at the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland.
