Signed on lower margin: T. Cieślewski | 1936
Tadeusz Cieślewski (Warsaw 1870 - Warsaw 1956) - father of graphic artist Tadeusz Cieślewski - began his artistic studies at the Warsaw Drawing School under the direction of W. Gerson and J. Kauzik. In 1895-1896 he studied in Paris at the Académie Vitti and under E. Aman-Jean and R. Collin. In 1900 he traveled to Italy and studied briefly at the Rome Academy. He lived permanently in Warsaw, actively participating in the artistic life of the city. He debuted at an exhibition at Warsaw's Zachęta in 1897; in 1898 he received a silver medal in a competition for a series of Warsaw postcards. From 1906 he was a member of the TZSP, serving several times as vice-president of that Society. In 1929 he received a silver medal from the TZSP, and in 1935 he was awarded an honorary diploma. He was a co-founder of the Art and Craft Association (1904), and belonged to the Pro Arte grouping. He exhibited a lot; primarily in Warsaw - at the Zachęta Gallery and, among others, at the Richling, Garlinski and Art Salons. He participated in exhibitions of Polish art abroad - in 1924 in Moscow, in 1936 at the 20th Venice Biennale, in 1939 in New York. During the Warsaw Uprising he lost most of his artistic output. He spent several postwar years in Piotrkow, but returned to Warsaw in 1948. He was primarily an architectural painter, particularly fond of painting views of the streets and squares of Warsaw. Less frequently, he created landscapes, still lifes, portraits and figural compositions. His favorite technique was watercolor, but he also painted in oil and pastels. He received the City of Warsaw Award twice, in 1928 and 1951; he was also awarded the Golden Cross of Merit and the Officer's and Commander's Crosses of the Order of Polonia Restituta.