Pavel Tchelitchew

Mr. & Mrs. Stanley B. Resor, Greenwich, Connecticut (acquired from the artist in 1939)
Thence by descent

New York, Museum of Modern Art, Tchelitchew, 1942, no. 60

This work is in good condition. The canvas is not lined and there does not appear to be any evidence of retouching visible under UV light. The canvas is slightly undulated in places and there are some fines lines of craquelure and minor paint shrinkage, mainly to the lower left quadrant. There are a few artist's pinholes to the upper two corners and some minor wear to the extreme lower edge, probably relating to previous framing.
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.

Throughout the 1930s Tchelitchew experimented with the theme of simultaneity, and he began depicting various and intermingled components of his compositions from three distinct perspectives: above, below and head-on. With its Surrealist-inspired imagery of children hiding in a field of flowers, the present work prefigures the artist's best-known masterpiece, Hide and Seek, the monumental oil now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York which was once considered the American public's favorite picture in the museum's collection (see fig. 1).