Compromises

The painting “Compromises” by Magdalena Nowatkowska is a restrained yet highly precise and eloquent composition that continues the themes of the cycle “Limits,” while directing the viewer’s attention to the relational nature of human existence. The title suggests inner tension—a meeting of opposites, the necessity of coming closer, giving up, or reconciling two differing points of view. In this work, compromise is not a soft gesture, but a balanced, formal, geometric one.

Strong contrasts—the black of the figures and the lines against a light background—emphasize the tension. Here, compromise is not the suspension of differences, but their deliberate juxtaposition. Each form retains its own identity, yet their coexistence gives them new meaning. They are equal, though different. Each preserves its structure, but their relationship creates a third entity—a space of negotiation, understanding, and shared presence.

The artist constructs the painting like a statement—reduced to the most essential message. And that message is shared presence despite differences.

Within the context of the cycle “Limits,” “Compromises” is an important voice—it shows that limits do not have to divide but can also define a place of encounter. They can serve as tools of mutual recognition, rather than isolation. In this view, compromise does not mean giving up oneself, but consciously creating a space where coexistence becomes possible.

It is a painting about relationships in which neither side dominates—yet neither disappears. About relationships built on conscious choice—not easy, but real. About presence that is not absolute agreement, but agreement with difference.