Lot 236
  • 236

Oleg Vassiliev

Estimate
40,000 - 50,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Oleg Vassiliev
  • Four Generations, 1992
  • signed with artist's monogram and dated 15 XI 92 (lower right); signed O. Vassiliev and with artist's monogram, titled Four Generations and dated 1992 (on the reverse)
  • colored pencil on paper

  • 14 1/4 by 10 1/2 in.
  • 36.5 by 27 cm

Literature

Matthew Cullerne Bown, Contemporary Russian Art, Oxford: Phaidon Press Limited, 1989
Oleg Vassiliev: Recent Works, New York: Phyllis Kind Gallery, 1993
S. S., "Oleg Vassiliev," A-Ya, 1980, no. 2, pp. 26-31
Oleg Vassiliev: Memory Speaks, Themes and Variations, St. Petersburg: The State Russian Museum, Kolodzei Art Foundation, Palace Editions, 2004

Condition

Colored pencil on paper. The sheet is a little dirty and shows minor signs of foxing, though it is in otherwise fine condition. There are a also couple minor scratches. Sold unframed.
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

Vassiliev's work has always dealt to some extent with memory. This aspect of his art became even more pronounced after Vassiliev moved to New York in 1990, leaving his past life behind. The drawing Four Generations is an idyllic recollection of that past, depicting Vassiliev, his father, his son, and his grandson. The drawing is based on a photograph taken in 1986.

Transforming his divisionist-inspired style through his exquisite draftsmanship, Vassiliev created a shimmering surface infused with mystical light. As Vassiliev explained, "In all my work I try to combine things that happen in different times, in different spaces, in different lights. It is like finding things in your memory that are very different and putting them all together, making them work."