Portrait of Klementyna Szembek née Dzieduszycka, sketch

This undated portrait sketch of Klementyna Szembek née Dzieduszycka documents Grottger's engagement with the Polish aristocracy that formed part of his social and professional network. The Szembek and Dzieduszycki families were among the most prominent Polish noble houses of Galicia, deeply engaged in the cultural and political resistance to partition. A portrait sketch of such a figure carried social and political dimensions beyond mere likeness: it placed Grottger within the circle of Polish noble patronage and affirmed the connection between his art and the national cause. The sketch status indicates either an early stage of a larger portrait or an independent rapid study from life, valued for its directness and psychological immediacy. The National Museum in Warsaw holds it within its comprehensive Grottger collection.

Portrait sketches in Grottger's practice retain the energy of first observation, with less finish than his completed canvases but often greater psychological immediacy. The canvas support gives some resistance that oil paint works against productively in establishing quick tonal summary. The face is likely the most resolved element, with clothing and background indicated more broadly.