St. Maximilian Kolbe Graphite Study (Older) - Original
Artist: Kevin Pawlowski (Georgia US, 1968- )
Title: St. Maximilian Kolbe Study (Older)
Medium: Graphite and white pencil on grey paper
Date: 2023
Graphite and white pencil study of St. Kolbe created in preparation of a larger oil painting. This is a portrait of St. Kolbe when he was older. Original 9”x12” drawing on gray paper.
About St. Maximillian Kolbe:
St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941) was a Polish Franciscan friar and martyr renowned for his unwavering faith, selflessness, and heroic sacrifice during the Holocaust. Born as Rajmund Kolbe, he entered the Franciscan Order in 1910, adopting the name Maximilian upon his ordination. Deeply committed to spreading the message of God's love, he founded the Militia of the Immaculata, a movement dedicated to promoting devotion to the Virgin Mary. Kolbe's ardent advocacy for faith and humanitarianism led him to establish a printing press and radio station, enabling him to reach a wider audience and convey his message of hope.
However, it was Kolbe's courageous act during World War II that immortalized his legacy. In 1941, at the Auschwitz concentration camp, he selflessly volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner who had been condemned to die in a starvation bunker as punishment for an escape attempt. Kolbe's self-sacrifice demonstrated a profound commitment to his faith and an extraordinary level of compassion for his fellow human beings. His unwavering resolve in the face of adversity and his ultimate sacrifice stand as a testament to the power of love and faith, making St. Maximilian Kolbe a shining example of Christian virtue and heroism for generations to come. He was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II in 1982.
Other Great Ways to Venerate St. Maximilian Kolbe…
Latest Blog Post…
Learning About The Life of St. Maximillian Kolbe Through Painting
Discussion of the symbols incorporated in the original painting of St. Maximillian Kolbe, and what they can teach us about his life and tragic death in Auschwitz.
Painstaking Process of Painting St. Kolbe
After four months of research, reference preparation, and finally painting, I completed my portrait of Saint Maximilian Kolbe on his feast day, August 14, 2023. This post is an inside look at my process. I can’t say for sure it is typical, but I know from talking to other artists that it isn’t unusual.