Wojciech Cieśniewski – “Męstwo – Fortitude”
Wojciech Cieśniewski (1958)
70 x 78 cm / oil on canvas
Guidelines from the exhibition curators and the artist – Wojciech Cieśniewski to conduct your own analysis of the interpretation of sin or virtue shown in the painting
There is no feminine form of the word „fortitude” in polish. It resists any attempt at gendered adaptation, and its apparent counterpart, “womanhood,” carries a completely different meaning. Perhaps the closest equivalent—though not a feminization—of “fortitude” might be “femininity.” But not the kind of femininity reduced solely to sex appeal, as captured in the lyrics of a pre-war hit: “Sex appeal is our feminine weapon (…).”
Femininity is indeed a formidable weapon, but it need not rely on clichéd, superficial tools—pink, lace, or fluttering eyelashes. It wields courage, resilience, and strength, though not necessarily physical. In historical allegories, Fortitude is often personified as a woman depicted with a column, symbolizing steadfastness and unyielding resolve.
Dr Grazyna Bastek - the main curator of the exhibition
Fortitude is, in essence, courage. Today, everyone has the right to it, regardless of gender.
Did the Artist depict a woman in the painting?
Perhaps. A single mother who takes on the immense responsibility of raising a child. Tremendous courage.
Did the Artist depict a man in the painting?
Perhaps. A father who, holding his newborn son in his arms, is unafraid to feel moved and publicly show his vulnerability.
Courage.
Aron Pudelko - co-curator of the exhibition
[yaycurrency-switcher]
48000,00 zł
About the art collection
The exhibition “The Faces of the Soul: Virtues and Sins”, initiated by the 407 Art Foundation in 2025, is an attempt to redefine concepts deeply rooted in culture – concepts that have shaped humanity’s moral compass for centuries. Wojciech Cieśniewski takes on a bold challenge: he examines the evolution of these notions in the context of contemporary social and cultural transformations. Has what was once considered a sin become merely a personality trait today?
Do virtues, which once defined the ideal human, still carry the same weight in a reality where everything is subject to redefinition? Cieśniewski does not offer easy answers. Instead, he compels the viewer to reflect, holding up a mirror in which one can see both oneself and society. His works balance on the edge of consciousness and subconsciousness – they are emotional, provocative, and intellectual.
Watch the Exhibition opening: https://youtu.be/TW9-DNe4bkc?si=b5Be6Tj9x9-P9Xx1
Read more about the exhibition: https://407artfoundation.org/en_gb/faces-of-the-soul-virtues-and-sins/
Wojciech Cieśniewski (1958)
The Artist, Painter, Professor of Art. Born in 1958 in Działdowo, Wojciech Cieśniewski initially pursued a passion for theoretical mathematics, earning a Master’s degree from the Higher Pedagogical School in Olsztyn in 1984. During his studies, he discovered that the language of mathematical symbols could not adequately express his emotions.
In 1983, he began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he graduated with distinction in 1988 under the mentorship of Prof. Rajmund Ziemski. Since 1990, he has been a faculty member at the academy, serving as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Painting from 2005 to 2012. Currently, he leads his own diploma studio.
Cieśniewski is considered one of the most significant contemporary Polish painters, recognized for both his artistic and intellectual achievements. For the first two decades of his career, he explored abstraction, investigating the autonomy of meaning and the impact of visual language in painting. In later years, he returned to figurative painting, engaging in a dialogue with the traditions of European art, drawing inspiration from masters such as Caravaggio, Giotto, Michelangelo, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Vermeer.
Over time, his work increasingly addressed ethical questions and the broader themes of good and evil in human life, while examining the role of art as a vehicle for beauty and virtue. His paintings often draw upon themes from the Bible, mythology, Christian iconography, and history.
Wojciech Cieśniewski has received numerous awards, including the Special Merit Award at the 2nd Malaysia International Art Exhibition (2012) and the “Gloria Artis” Medal for Merit to Culture (2011). His works have been featured in over 150 individual and group exhibitions in Poland and abroad.
English (UK) 
Polski