Jan Cybis is considered one of Poland's leading twentieth century artists, exerting a powerful influence on an entire generation of younger painters. Born in the Silesian village of Wróblin, at the age of 23 Cybis enrolled at the Art Academy in Wroclaw (Breslau). There he studied under the supervision of Otto Müller, a member of the German Expressionist group Die Brücke.

From 1921-24 Cybis continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow. In 1924 Cybis moved to Paris for several years together with the Kapists group. Their first exhibition took place at the Zak Gallery in 1929. Two of his paintings from this exhibition were purchased by Gertrude Stein.

In 1931 Cybis returned to Poland. After WWII Cybis was elected president of the Polish Artists' Association, Warsaw province, and appointed Professor of the Fine Arts Academy. In 1955 Cybis received the Highest Polish State Award for his achievements in the arts. A year later he was given an award by the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation.

Jan Cybis studied art in Wroclaw and Krakow under notable artists such as Otto Müller, Józef Pankiewicz, Józef Mehoffer, and Ignacy Pienkowski. He was a founder of the Paris Committee and lived in Paris, exhibiting in galleries in Paris and Geneva. Cybis created art under the influence of French impressionism, particularly inspired by Cézanne and Bonnard. He was known as the initiator of the color trend in Polish painting, with his work focusing on themes like still life, nude, and landscape.