Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin

Christie's New York, Russian Works of Art, 31st October 1990, lot 45

Structural Condition The canvas is unlined on a wooden keyed stretcher and this is providing a stable and secure structural support. There are some fine vertical and horizontal lines of craquelure in the upper left of the sky but these are stable and secure. If, however, they were found to be visually distracting, they could be reduced with localised treatment. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. The painting fluoresces unevenly under ultra-violet light. This would appear to be due to the nature of the artist's materials and that only very minimal, scattered retouchings have been applied in the past. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good stable condition and no further work is required. Held in a gold painted wooden frame. Unexamined out of frame.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Boulevard des Capucines is typical of the impulsive yet subtle character of Korovin's paintings. Whilst clearly influenced by Claude Monet's technique of building up a painting through gradations of shade, texture and colour, it is the aerial perspective of Korovin's compositions which sets his oeuvre apart. It is often said of Korovin that he was the first to introduce Impressionism to the stage in his designs, but the reverse is also true. The space created between the viewer and the scene portrayed gives as sense of theatricality and harks back to Korovin's earlier experience as a set designer: we are onlookers to the spectacle of life below. The offered lot belongs to a group of night views of Paris, most of which are held in Russian public collections (fig.1).

By choosing night scenes, Korovin was able to exploit the tonal contrasts between the bright, vivid street-lighting and the darkness of the sky. The picture is brought to life by fast, broad and almost crude brush-work which enhances these complex colour juxtapositions. As Konstantin Yuon commented, "Korovin's painting is the embodiment in imagery of the artist's happiness and joy of living. All the colours of the world beckoned to him and smiled at him".

In Boulevard des Capucines surfaces are used to explore the wealth of texture and colour and his subjects seem to radiate light themselves. One of Korovin's students remarked that, "his greatest joy was the fascinating process of battling with nature, at the end of which a new, second life, enriched by the artist's poetic feeling, would emerge on the canvas."