Artist: Jan Matejko
Year: 1888
Artistic period: Polish historical painting
Historical event: Battle of Racławice, 4 April 1794
This is a reproduction print of the monumental historical painting “Kościuszko at Racławice” (Kościuszko pod Racławicami), created by Polish painter Jan Matejko in 1888. The artwork depicts Tadeusz Kościuszko and the victorious Polish insurgents following the Battle of Racławice on 4 April 1794, one of the most celebrated engagements of the Kościuszko Uprising against Russian domination. Combining historical detail, dramatic composition and patriotic symbolism, the painting commemorates the struggle for Polish independence and the participation of ordinary citizens in the defense of their homeland. The original artwork is housed at the National Museum in Kraków, Poland.
The Battle of Racławice took place during the Kościuszko Uprising of 1794, a national insurrection against Russian influence and the political consequences of the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Following the First Partition of Poland in 1772 and the Second Partition in 1793, the Commonwealth had lost extensive territories to neighboring powers. On 24 March 1794, Tadeusz Kościuszko proclaimed the uprising in Kraków, assuming leadership of the armed struggle to restore the country's sovereignty.
On 4 April 1794, Kościuszko's forces confronted a Russian army commanded by General Alexander Tormasov near the village of Racławice. Although the Polish army included regular infantry and cavalry, one of its most distinctive formations consisted of kosynierzy — peasant volunteers armed with scythes mounted upright on long shafts. During the battle, these troops played an important role in attacking Russian artillery positions and capturing enemy cannons.
Among the best-known participants was Wojciech Bartosz Głowacki, a peasant soldier traditionally credited with distinguishing himself during the assault on the Russian guns. His actions became a lasting symbol of the contribution of the peasantry to the Polish struggle for independence. Although the victory at Racławice did not fundamentally change the military balance of the uprising, it provided an important morale boost and strengthened Kościuszko's reputation as a national leader.
Rather than depicting the height of the fighting, Matejko presents a dramatic scene of the Polish victory and its participants. At the center stands Tadeusz Kościuszko on horseback, surrounded by soldiers, officers and peasant scythemen. The composition emphasizes the relationship between the commander and the ordinary men who helped secure the victory. The presence of captured artillery, military equipment and figures from different social backgrounds reinforces the painting's historical narrative.
One of the painting's most significant themes is the participation of the Polish peasantry in the national cause. Kościuszko recognized the importance of mobilizing rural communities and sought to improve their position through measures such as the Proclamation of Połaniec, issued on 7 May 1794, which reduced certain feudal obligations and offered limited protections to peasants. In Matejko's painting, the scythemen become symbols of social solidarity, courage and the possibility of uniting different classes in the defense of the Commonwealth.
The artwork was completed in 1888, when Poland remained partitioned between Russia, Prussia and Austria. For Matejko's contemporary audience, the Battle of Racławice represented more than a military victory: it recalled a moment when Poles from different social backgrounds had joined a common struggle for national survival. By depicting Kościuszko and his peasant soldiers together, Matejko emphasized national unity, historical memory and the continuing aspiration for independence.
The composition is distinguished by its monumental scale, richly detailed historical uniforms, expressive figures and carefully arranged groups of soldiers. Matejko combines meticulous attention to military equipment and period clothing with a theatrical presentation of the historical event. His painting transforms the aftermath of a battle into a broader reflection on leadership, patriotism, collective sacrifice and the role of ordinary people in shaping history.
Painted in oil on canvas, the original artwork measures approximately 465 × 879 cm, making it one of Matejko's largest historical compositions. Jan Matejko (1838–1893) was one of Poland's greatest historical painters, celebrated for monumental works depicting the political, military and cultural history of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Today, “Kościuszko at Racławice” remains one of the defining masterpieces of 19th-century Polish historical painting, admired for its powerful representation of the Kościuszko Uprising, the Battle of Racławice, Polish independence and the contribution of peasant soldiers to the nation's history.
