L13112

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Lot 233
  • 233

Paul Kotlarevsky

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Paul Kotlarevsky
  • Village in Britanny
  • oil on canvas
  • 40.4 by 46cm, 15 3/4 by 18in.

Condition

The canvas has been lined. The paint surface is dirty and the varnish has discoloured. There is line of frame abrasion to the right edge approximately 9 cm in length with associated paint loss. There are minor spots of paint loss to the upper and lower right corners and in places elsewhere. UV lights reveals no apparent signs of retouching, however an opaque layer of varnish prevents further examination. Held in a gold painted wooden frame. Unexamined out of frame.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Catalogue Note

A lawyer by profession, Kotlarevsky’s real interest lay in painting. After graduating from law school in Russia, Kotlarevsky’s parents sent him abroad to discover Europe’s artistic heritage. Together with his wife and son he visited Rome and Vienna before arriving in Paris in 1913. Here, Kotlarevsky decided to dedicate himself to his passion and enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He especially admired Chagall, Braque and Matisse.

Confronted with a new manner of painting, he experimented with various styles during the 1910s, in particular Cubism, which is apparent in the present work. With geometric patches of colour overlaying the elements of the composition, the painting reveals a true chromatic unity, while playing with mass and volume. Depicting a traditional village in Britanny, at the edge of the sea, Kotlarevsky proves he has mastered the modern vocabulary of Cubism.   

Remaining in the Kotlarevsky family to this date, the present work is thought to have been painted in the mid-1910s.