Poor Jewish Woman Selling Oranges in Poland Ceramic Tile

This design features a painting by the Polish artist Aleksander Gierymski (1850–1901). It shows a poor Jewish shopkeeper carrying two baskets of oranges to sell to the public. The woman is wearing simple clothing, a cap on her head, and a scarf on her shoulders. The background depicts the roofs of Warsaw houses and the skyline of the Polish capital city. The woman's face is serious and determined. Her highlighted cheeks as well as prominent wrinkles heighten the effect of her sadness and helplessness, as she tries to provide for herself in difficult conditions. In contrast, the oranges are given a bright colour: they may symbolise the joys of life, warmth and the southern climate. The original painting was looted by the Nazis in Germany-occupied Poland during World War II, and recovered only in 2011; it is now housed in the National Museum of Warsaw.