Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin

Private Collection, Germany, circa late 1960s

This painting is in beautiful condition. It has never been removed from its original stretcher. The canvas is well stretched and the paint layer is stable. It has been recently cleaned and varnished, and only a small group of retouches is visible addressing the drying cracks in the red dress of one of the figures immediately above her left wrist. Overall this picture is in excellent condition. The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Konstantin Korovin was an exceptionally accomplished and prolific painter. He dabbled in various themes, working with Diaghelev while painting set and costume designs and joining the innovative World of Art group, all the while honing his unique Impressionist technique. Korovin masterfully executed still life compositions, intimate interiors and views of Paris and the Crimean coast, but it was his tendency to romanticize his subjects through light and color that set him apart from his Russian contemporaries.

At Fedor Chaliapin's suggestion, the artist and his family left Russia permanently in 1923, spending time in Riga and Berlin before eventually settling in Paris, where he embraced his re-established artistic freedom and at once felt at home. At the Window was executed during the artist's brief stay in Berlin, where it was likely hung in his solo exhibition at the Karl Nikolai Gallery in 1923. This charming double-portrait is a brilliant demonstration of Korovin's unparalleled talent for depicting both portraits and cityscapes.

The present scene typifies the impulsive yet subtle character of Korovin's brushstroke.  There is a sense of theatricality to be found in the composition, which appears as a detailed setting infused with energy and possibility, and in which the viewer is invited to gaze upon the dynamic spectacle of life. When painting images at night, Korovin explored tonal contrasts, such as those of the dark night sky and bright street-lighting. At times he painted flames flickering in lanterns, with dashes of paint evoking a synchronous dance of light and shadow along the walls. At other times he painted the softer, atmospheric qualities of the late evening hours, thereby creating a scene of dark blues and greens where the eye must strain to discern the scene beyond the foreground. In the present composition, the artist masterfully combines these techniques, creating an image that is at once peaceful and dynamic, inviting and alive.