MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 8-9 June 2011
8 June 2011
* 454. KUSTODIEV, BORIS (1878-1927)
Making Jam, c. 1907-1908.
Pencil and watercolour, heightened with white, on paper, 29.5 by 27.5 cm.
20,000-30,000 GBP
Provenance: The A.M. Aronov collection, Leningrad (label on the reverse).
The V.M. Magitson collection (label on the reverse).
Exhibited: Exhibition of Works by B.M. Kustodiev, Moscow, 1969 (label on the reverse).
Works by the World of Art Artists from St Petersburg Private Collections, St Petersburg, 1997 (label on the reverse).
Literature: M.G. Etkind, Boris Kustodiev, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1982, p. 235, no. 693, listed.
Boris Kustodiev's watercolour Making Jam dates from around 1907-1908. These years can only nominally be regarded as the artist's early period. His fully developed style, the recognition he had already achieved in Russia and Europe, as well as the prizes awarded to him are all indicative of the fact that he was already approaching his prime. This work depicts the artist's wife, Yulia Evstafievna Kustodieva. Her profile and favourite style of dress are instantly recognisable. The artist often worked en plein air and loved to paint country house scenes with his family. The casual, natural poses and simplicity of the setting lend particular warmth and sincerity to the work. The free movement of the brush, brightness of the composition, its small scale and other arrangements correspond to the then fashionable style moderne, which the artist would follow for many years.
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.