Jadwiga

100×80 cm

2026

Queen Jadwiga of Poland lived during the late 14th century, from 1373 to 1399. In the year 1384, at only ten years old, she was crowned not as a queen, but as a King of Poland — because at that time, Polish law did not recognize a woman as a sovereign ruler. A queen was seen only as the wife of a king, never as the ruler herself. So the crown placed upon her head carried the title of “King,” revealing both the power she possessed and the freedom women were denied in that era.

This painting captures not only the beauty of Jadwiga, but also the silent strength of a woman forced to exist within the limits of a world ruled by men. The birds lifting her scarf into the air become symbols of the freedom women longed for but could rarely touch. They carry the fabric upward like a whisper of liberation, as if the wind itself dreams of a future where women are allowed to rise beyond the roles history assigned to them.

Jadwiga appears both regal and fragile — a young soul carrying the burden of a kingdom upon her shoulders. Though crowned as a king, she remained a woman in a society that feared female authority. The birds surrounding her seem almost like spirits of hope, reminding us that freedom often begins first in dreams, imagination, and courage before it can exist in reality.

Her life was short, yet her legacy endured far beyond her years. In her, history reveals a paradox: a woman who had to become “King” in order to rule, and who, through grace and intelligence, transformed weakness into quiet power.

This painting speaks about dignity, sacrifice, and the eternal human desire for freedom. The birds do not simply hold her scarf — they lift her spirit beyond the boundaries of her time.