Aleksander Sochaczewski

In 1858, Sochaczewski entered the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts to learn painting.

In the early part of the 1860s, infused with the spirit of revolution that was set in motion by the movement for Polish independence from Russia, Sochaczewski joined his fellow students in demonstrations and covert activities against the Russians.

A search of his apartment yielded equipment for making bullets, underground publications and other anti-government material.

The 21 years Sochaczewski spent in Siberia left an indelible mark on his mind.

During the 2nd World War, while Lviv fell successively to the Soviets and the Nazis, the collection was saved by being stored in Kiev.

In 1963, on the 100th anniversary of the January Uprising, most of the collection was transferred to the newly formed Museum of Independence in the Xth Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel, becoming part of its permanent display.

It is a symbolic painting which depicts various famous Sybiraks (Polish exiles to Siberia), including himself, a person in the right of the Europe-Asia border obelisk looking at it.