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Aleksander Kotsis (1836-1877) was a Polish painter and one of the leading representatives of realism in 19th century painting. He was born in Ludwinów (now part of Kraków), and his work focused on depicting the daily life of the Polish provinces, especially the poor social strata. He painted genre scenes, landscapes and portraits, immortalizing highlanders, Podgórze residents and Roma, among others. He studied in Krakow and Vienna, and his inspirations included the works of Jean-François Millet. Kotsis was a forerunner of new subject matter in Polish painting, valued for his empathy in depicting poverty and his masterful handling of color. His works became known and appreciated especially after 1945.