collection | general collection | N | NIKIFOR (epifan DROWNIAK, known as)

NIKIFOR (epifan DROWNIAK, known as)

[1895, Krynica, Pologne — 1968, Krynica, Pologne]

Little is known about the life of Nikifor — an enigmatic nickname of unknown origin. Nothing is known of his father, and his mother, deaf and mute like him, is said to have been a servant, a beggar, or even a prostitute. After her death, Nikifor led a wandering life in his hometown, a spa resort, surviving through the sale of his drawings and the care of local residents who appreciated him.
He is believed to have begun drawing around the age of thirteen, using all sorts of found materials. His favorite subjects were churches, train stations, and streets. In the 1930s, his works began circulating among Polish artists, and eventually throughout Europe.