Alexander Archipenko 1887-1964

Estimate

40,000 - 60,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Alexander Archipenko
Portrait of a woman
Signed Archipenko (lower right)
Oil on canvas wrapped around panel
22 by 16 in.
56 by 40.6 cm.
Painted in 1928.

Provenance

Acquired directly from the Estate of the Artist

Condition

This painting has most likely never been cleaned but has been fairly recently varnished. There are some retouches in the orange background to the right of the head and a few others in the orange background to the left of the head and shoulders. However, the amount of actual retouching is minimal. There is some cracking and lifting of the paint, particularly in the upper right and lower left quadrants. These areas could be consolidated and secured by a professional conservator and would require minimal retouching.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

The authenticity of this work has kindly been confirmed by Frances Archipenko Gray.

Archipenko's paintings from the 1920s are fairly rare in his oeuvre. Only approximately thirty canvases are recorded from this period. In these works, he applied the same principals which motivated his iconic sculptures: "I do not exclude naturalism from my conception of creative art. However, I do eliminate the photographic precision of details which contradicts the expression of some esthetic character which I intend to amplify. For instance, if muscles or bones interfere with the line, I eliminate them in order to obtain simplicity, purity and the expression of stylistic line and form" (Alexander Archipenko, Archipenko, Fifty Creative Years, 1908-1958, New York, 1960, p.48)