Stańczyk

Stańczyk (Full title: Stańczyk during a ball at the court of Queen Bona in the face of the loss of Smolensk) is a painting by Jan Matejko finished in 1862. This painting was acquired by the Warsaw National Museum in 1924. During World War II it was looted by the Nazis, but later seized by the Soviet Union and returned to Poland around 1956. Its primary component is the contrast between the solemn jester (the titular Stańczyk) and the lively ball going on in the background. The painting presents Stańczyk with a sense of isolation and hopelessness, which reflects the political situation of Poland during the 19th century.[1]