Alexander Liberman

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zadok, Wisconsin
Gifted by the above to the mother of the present owner
Thence by descent

Barbara Rose, Alexander Liberman, New York, 1981, pl. 41, illustrated pg. 40

The canvas is unlined and somewhat slack in the stretcher. There is a small dent in the canvas to the right above the figure's head. The picture surface is in generally good condition aside from some minor surface dirt and pigment separation and some very minor but stable losses of impasto in the greens at the center of the canvas. Under UV: the pigments are still active but there are no apparent signs of inpainting.
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.

This is a rare early work by Liberman, who is best known for his monumental abstract sculptures composed of tubular forms painted bright red. Liberman was born in Russia but raised in Paris, amid the sophisticated expatriot Russian population which included many artists.  He married the daughter of a Russian artist and they emigrated to New York at the start of World War II. He returned to Paris in 1947 to visit old haunts, which inspired him to resume painting. The present work is one of a group he painted the following year, each the same theme of a pianist, but each in a style inspired by Parisian artists he was striving to learn from - this picture pays homage to Matisse.