Alexander Arkadevich Labas

The Solomon Shuster Collection

Original canvas. There is a layer of surface dirt. Faint stretcher bar marks are visible along all edges, with some very minor associated paint loss in the upper right corner. There is a small fleck of paint loss to the background to the left of the sitter's hat. There are frame abrasions along the edges of the canvas. Inspection under UV light shows some possible minor areas of retouching to the lower left of the canvas just below the sitter's elbow. Held in a modern 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."

One of the most innovative Russian artists of the period, Alexander Labas’ work is firmly rooted in the 1920s and 1930s. The decade following the Revolution of 1917 was one of artistic experimentation and freedom that sparked intense discussion about the place of the artist and the function of art in the new society. The artists that came together in the Society of Easel Painters (OST), of which Labas was a founding member, were interested in depicting Soviet life and the ideals of the new state, but unlike the conservative Association of Revolutionary Artists, they did not reject the lessons of the avant-garde and chose to embrace the latest tendencies in European painting, in particular Expressionism. As the name of the group makes clear, the OST artists firmly believed that easel painting held an important place in a Communist society, which put them in direct opposition to the Constructivists who thought that artists should abandon pure art and turn to the production of utilitarian objects.

Oils from Labas’ OST period very rarely appear on the open market, and Red Army Soldier in the Far East presents a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most iconic images of early Soviet art. Painted in 1931, only three years after the celebrated version now in the permanent collection of the State Russian Museum in St Petersburg (fig.1), Red Army Soldier in the Far East combines some of Labas’ major themes, such as the heroism of those who fought during the Revolution and the Civil War, represented here by the Budenovka worn by the sitter, an essential piece of Red Army uniform during the Civil War. Industrial progress is another major theme, represented here by the planes and pylons in the background.