Abraham Manievich, 1883-1942

Philadelphia, Art Alliance,  Paintings by Abraham Manievich of Moscow, 4 April to 18 April 1923, n.11
Boston, Gallery of the Boston Art Club, Exhibition of Paintings by Abraham Manievich, 7 January to 31 January 1925, n.46
New York, Academy of Allied Arts Gallery, Exhibition of Paintings by Abraham Manievich, 7 May to 21 May 1933, n.38
New York, French Art Galleries, Memorial Exhibition of Paintings, 26 January to 20 February 1943, n.3
New York, Art Center, Congress for Jewish Culture, Abraham Manievich Memorial Exhibition, 15 October to 15 November 1957, n.3

The offered work has been dated 1914 by the family of the artist.

The art of the Ukrainian painter Abram Manievich is currently enjoying a period of revival.  Like his contemporaries Boris Anisfeld and David Burliuk, Manievich emigrated to the USA in 1922 following the seismatic political changes in Russia and the Ukraine after the revolution of 1917.  The offered lot, "Alexander Square, Kiev" is a work painted pre-emigration, and depicts a famous Kiev landmark.  It was most likely painted the year before he moved to Moscow (later also St. Petersburg), where he remained until returning to the Ukrainian capital in 1917.

One of his greatest accolades was given to him by Albert Einstein who was familiar with the artist's work.  He said "Both of us are serving the stars: you as an artist and me as a scientist".  It has been observed that as World War I progressed his works became more sombre, his palette darker, although colour remained a central preoccupation.

Please note that this painting is to be reproduced in the forthcoming monograph on Abram Manievich by Ori Z. Soltes.