Oil, panel 19 x 33 cm, framed in a period frame 31 x 45 cm; signed p.d. "H Baranowski"; on the back dedication by the author: "In memory of my Aunt and Uncle (...) motifs from Orlowo" and his signature; author's sticker: "PRACOWNIA ART. PAINTING/HENRYK BARANOWSKI/GDYNIA- ORŁOWO, 11 PRZEBENDOWSKICH STREET".
The presented work from the early period of the artist's work was created in the late 1950s/60s. Baranowski at that time painted with the difficult technique of thick impasto while maintaining full color harmony. In a later period the artist began to paint "more delicately" using a thin layer of paint.
Henryk Baranowski lived in Gdynia since his childhood years. His parents were the owners of the boarding house "Morskie Oko". From 1951, he studied at the State Higher School of Visual Arts (now the Academy of Fine Arts) in Gdansk under Juliusz Studnicki and Jozef Wodyński. He was forced to interrupt his artistic studies as a result of being called up for military service. On the other hand, thanks to his service, the painter made many deep-sea voyages in his life on Navy ships, visiting Africa and the Middle East, among other places. These expeditions influenced the formation of his artwork.
In September 1952, he presented his first solo exhibition at the art salon "Bohemia" on 3 Maja Street in Gdynia.
The artist perfectly "sensed" the sea aura. He depicted the sea in different shots, at different times of the year (snow-covered boats abandoned on the shore, fishermen working at unloading crates, pomeranians floating on the water, tourists relaxing on a sunny beach, a bird's-eye view of port buildings, construction and repair work on ships).
Along with Franciszek Szwoch, Marian Mokwa and Antoni Suchanek, Henryk Baranowski counts among the most distinguished Polish marine artists. His works are in the collections of, among others, the Polish Army, the admiralty of the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, Sweden, in maritime museums in Russia and Germany and in numerous private collections. There are thirteen works in the collection of the Museum of the City of Gdynia, including oil paintings, linocuts and lithographs.
