Julian Fałat

Julian Fałat was born in 1853 in Tuligłów (now Ukraine), he died in 1929 in Bystra. This is one of the greatest watercolor artist in the history of Polish art, creating in a realistic and impressionist style. He was the rector of the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts (1894-1909).

Due to the difficult financial situation, the artist specialized in watercolor painting as a cheaper alternative to oil paints. He worked as a cartoonist at archaeological excavations and in architectural studios. He took up artistic studies in Munich and Zurich, with a break from work on the construction site, which allowed him to pay for science. During the student period, he mainly created landscapes, portraits and genre scenes.

In 1881 he went to Rome, and a year later he created in Warsaw. In 1884 he decided to go to Spain, which became the starting point of his journey around the world; Unfortunately, only a few watercolors have been preserved from this period of life. After returning to the country in 1887, he painted hunting scenes and animal images. He worked at the court of William II in Berlin, won medals at the Berlin, Munich and Vienna exhibitions. In 1895 he became the rector of the School of Fine Arts in Krakow, carrying out reforms regarding the teaching staff. He co-founded the "Art" Society of Polish Artists.

In 1902-1913 he painted his famous winter landscapes. He also created paintings with Krakow motifs. From 1910 he settled permanently in a villa in Bystra (currently "Fałatówka"). After World War I, he became involved in the artistic reconstruction of the country, and in the years 1920-1922 he lived in a villa in Toruń, which became one of the centers of cultural life in Poland. He died in 1929, he was buried in Bystra.