MacDougall Auctions 28 November 2008
28 November 2008
47. KONENKOV, SERGEI 1874-1971
Female Nude carved with signature
Carved wood, height 110 cm.
50,000-70,000
Authenticity letter from Ms. Marie Turbow Lampard.
Related literature: Marie Turow Lampard, John E. Bowlt, Wendy R. Salmond, The Uncommon Vision of Sergei Konenkov, 1874-1971: A Russian Sculptor and His Times, Rutgers University Press, 2001.
For similar works see Sergei Kolenkov, Khudojnik RSFSR, Leningrad, 1978, cover.
Sergei Konenkov, the genius of Russian wood sculpture, was
one of those responsible for the revival in the use of wood
in twentieth century art. His light touch brought a fresh and
unexpected modernity to this living, organic material as a
sculptural medium. His work created a fashion for wood
sculpture in Russia, which was enthusiastically supported by
all the outstanding masters of the period – Anna Golubkina,
Stephen Erzia, Vera Mukhina and Vasiliy Vatatin, who happily
set about fashioning flesh out of timber. Konenkov’s
guiding principle was not to compromise the material,
which he believed to be sufficient in its own right and required
no embellishment. In fact, Konenkov transformed wood
into one of the central materials in Russian sculpture. The
Soviet authorities had little use for art of this type, as wooden
compositions were deemed unsuitable for their favoured
monumental propaganda. This allowed wooden sculptures
to develop into a more harmonious genre, free from false
pathos and official monumentalism.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.