Ivana Kobilca

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Ivana Kobilca: Self-portrait in white

Ivana Kobilca (December 20, 1861 - December 4, 1926) was a Slovene realist painter who lived, worked and studied in various European cities including Vienna, Sarajevo, Berlin, Paris and Munich. She was a member of Société Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris. Many of her paintings are still lifes and portraits and of country settings. She later tended toward impressionism.

Her best known paintings are Kofetarica (Coffeemadam), 1888; Citrarica (The Zitherist), Likarice (Women Ironers), 1891, Holandsko dekle (A Dutch Girl), Portret sestre Fani (Portrait of Sister Fani), 1889; and Poletje (Summer), 1889.

Her portrait was on the 5000 Slovenian tolar banknote.

[edit] Works and meanings

Ivana Kobilca is the most important Slovenian female painter. Judging by her social origin, way of living, ideals and work, she was an urban artist. She is one of Slovenian realists , who created their most important paintings in the 80s of 19th century. Kobilica's greatest tribute to Slovenian art was made in time, when she lived abroad. Her greatest impact was on figural painting, especially portraits and paintings of typical people's lives; rustical and urban. Since the time she had spent in Berlin, her most important genre became floral still life. Her early work reflects characteristics of München-studio-work. The main colors are dark, brownish, only the pastels are light and rosy. Then, since 1889 her painting became less darker with, as it was then typical for Paris art, blue nuances.

From here on, many artist took the next step that led into Impressionism. Ivana Kobilca did not. In her latest period of work, her ability of creating fresh and interesting paintings started to fade. With only few exceptions, her work of that period are dull and impersonal.