MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 1-2 Dec 2010
1 December 2010
* 372. SINEZOUBOFF, NIKOLAI 1891-1956
Night in Berlin signed and dated 1930, also inscribed with a dedication in Cyrillic and dated "10 August 31/Berlin" on the reverse
Oil on canvas, 50 by 50.5 cm.
200,000-300,000 GBP
Nikolai Sinezouboff painted Night in Berlin during the first few years after he emigrated from Russia. The traditions of Russian avant-garde painting of the 1920s are still evident, as is the style which the artist had developed in the Makovets group. The rich colouring of this striking work, the soft contouring, achieved by means of deliberately diffuse lighting, give this canvas a particular recognisability common to the best of Sinezouboff ’s works. This vivacious, cropped image of a street scene could be compared to the athmospherical voyeurism of the German Expressionists, but Sinezouboff is, without doubt, gentler and more lyrical, his images more self-contained, endowed with a contemplative introspection and inner harmony. Here the diffuse lighting in the shop windows and the street dissolves in the drizzling rain.
The works of Nikolai Sinezouboff of this period are extremely rare and their appearance on the market tends to excite great interest among collectors and museums.
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.