Through the Eye of Yesterday

“Through the Eye of Yesterday”, from Magdalena Nowatkowska’s Limits series, is a minimalist and abstract composition that invites reflection on aging, wisdom, and the limits of perception. Geometric shapes and a restrained color palette create an atmosphere of stillness and distance, evoking the image of an elderly sage observing the world through the lens of time and experience.

The dominant form resembles a schematic depiction of a human head and eye, giving the painting an anthropomorphic character. The elongated vertical structure suggests the figure of an old person, with a face seemingly stretched by time—a metaphor for the transformations brought by the passing years, not only in physical appearance but also in the way reality is perceived.

The painting conveys a sense of quiet contemplation, but also of detachment and isolation. The figure does not communicate directly with the world—it remains an observer, a guardian of memories, someone who has seen more than others. It portrays a human being on the edge of existence, still present, yet drifting away from reality, viewing it from a more metaphysical perspective.

The minimalist form and subdued palette enhance the feeling of calm, yet also of melancholy. It is a painting that speaks of wisdom, experience, and the solitude that often accompanies old age—inviting the viewer to contemplate their own boundaries of perception and memory.