The Polish painter Piotrovsky first came to Bulgaria in 1885, during the time of the Servo-Bulgarian War. He arrived as a war correspondent and artist for several illustrated newspapers, including The Graphic. His task was to record events visually and send drawings and sketches back to Western Europe. These early works mainly consisted of war scenes and military subjects.
Piotrovsky was deeply affected by what he saw in Bulgaria. A short time after his first visit, he returned to the country, not only as a journalist but also as an artist seeking deeper inspiration. During this second stay, he created several important works that he left behind in Bulgaria Holidays Bulgaria.
“The Massacre in Batak” – A Powerful Historical Painting
Among Piotrovsky’s most important contributions is his large painting titled “The Massacre in Batak by the Bashi-bazouks in 1876.” Today, this work belongs to the collections of the Bulgarian Prince and private individuals, along with many of his war sketches and military pictures.
This painting is one of the most striking works in the Bulgarian National Museum. The dominant feature of the composition is the strong light coming from the burning village of Batak, which is reflected in the nearby river and creates an almost dazzling effect. Despite this intense lighting, the artist succeeds in maintaining clarity and balance in the scene.
Artistic Qualities of the Painting
The painting shows Piotrovsky’s great skill, especially in his treatment of the human figure. His rendering of feminine forms is particularly notable, an area in which Bulgarian artists of that period still lacked confidence and experience. The masculine figures, shown in heavy and expressive drapery, are also painted with strength and realism.
Another important quality of the work is the way Piotrovsky depicts large groups of people. Each figure has an individual expression, yet all are part of a clearly understandable scene. On the right side of the painting stands the burning village of Batak. On the left are the wounded and dying Bulgarians, surrounded by the victors—Circassians, Bashi-bazouks, Turkish women, and Gypsies—who cruelly celebrate, loot, and divide the spoils of destruction.
Boloungaro and the Impressionist Influence
Another foreign artist who left a lasting impression in Bulgaria was the Italian painter Boloungaro. He spent several years in Sofia, where he worked as a teacher in a secondary school. In terms of technique and style, he belonged to the Impressionist School.
One of his best-known paintings shows evening falling over a Bulgarian landscape. The scene is peaceful and poetic, with a line of peasant carts slowly descending a hill. The soft light, simple composition, and quiet movement give the painting a strong emotional effect and reflect a new artistic vision introduced by foreign painters in Bulgaria.