Leopold Lvovich Survage, 1879-1968

Cologne, Kölner Kunstverein, Leopold Survage Retospective, 1960, no.40
Paris, Musée Galliera, Leopold Survage Retrospective, April-May 1966, no.104
Lyon, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Survage, 1968, illustrated ex.cat. p.32

Original canvas. There is a layer of light surface dirt and slightly discoloured varnish. There are some lines of craquelure to the sun top right. There are light abrasions to the paint surface. Examinations under uv reveals a few spots of retouching to the top right hand quadrant of the work and some retouching along the lower edge and to some paint loss in the lower right corner. Held in a gold and black painted moulded plasetr frame. Unexamined out of frame.
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Leopold Survage is celebrated for conveying a certain musicality in his paintings. In 1912-13 he invented "Le Rythme Colore", an abstract film concept which never came into fruition due to lack of funds. His 200 original panels however, many of which are in the Museum of Modern Art, New York, are totally abstract. Like Kandinsky, Survage was a true pioneer of abstract art. "The flat surface is the area on which I evolve my images. My form generates a rhythm or a group of rhythms. From the rhythm is born the sensation which gives rise to, in its turn, an impression of duration. Rhythm is the contracting factor of a surface. It organizes and seals the unity within it. It is formed by the contours of the body" (Greer Gallery, New York, 1968, p. 4)

 

To be included in the forthcoming Leopold Survage Catalogue raisonné being prepared by Eric Brosset.