Pavel Tchelitchew 1898-1957

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Kent, Washington, D.C. (acquired directly from the artist)
By descent to the present owner

New York, The Museum of Modern Art, Tchelitchew, Paintings, Drawings, 1942, no. 19

Pin holes at the corners and at top of head at upper center; edges are slightly worn. Paperboard has darkened from light. F-shaped scrape in board at upper right, which may be inherent to the board.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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A dazzling draftsman with enormous range, Tchelitchew began his carreer in Paris, where he took refuge after the Russian Revolution. In Paris, he produced designs for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, collaborated with choreographer George Ballanchine and became Gertrude Stein's protegé. From 1934 through the 1940's, Tchelitchew lived in New York. In 1942, The Museum of Modern Art gave him a solo show elevating him to the status of Picasso, Matisse, and Dalí, the artistic giants of the era. In the current work, Tchelitchew weaves circus imagery into the moody figure of the clown evoking his later, ethereal and transcendental oeuvre.