Lot 21
  • 21

IVAN CHUIKOV | Nude

Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Ivan Chuikov
  • Nude
  • oil, acrylic and mixed media on wood
  • Box without clouds: 35 1/2 by 23 3/4 by 4 1/2 in., 90 by 60 by 11.5cm
signed in Cyrillic and dated '74' on the reverseoil, acrylic and mixed media on wood 'You don’t decide one day to be a dissident. And even if someone had said to me that you are a dissident, I would have denied it. Why should one expose oneself to unpleasantness? What does occur, however, is a gradual change. I studied with classmates who became official artists. Now, of course, there are no more official artists. We remained friends for a long time, but then you first refuse invitations. Then you do not want to go to an official meeting of artists. You don’t want to show at official exhibitions. Imperceptibly, you turn away. You estrange yourself.' (Ivan Chuikov, quoted in ‘Soviet Dissident Artists’, Rutgers University Press, 1995)

Provenance

Acquired by the father of the present owner in Moscow

Condition

The clouds on either side are approximately 3 1/2 inches wide. There are signs of damage and wear to all eight corners, with associated paint loss. There is some cracking and paint loss to the composition in the lower left and upper left corners. There is a small area of paint loss on the left edge, and additional areas of paint loss to the upper and lower edges which reveal the under-layer of paint. There is a layer of surface dirt. There is a horizontal scratch to the top left corner and a number of scratches and scuff marks in places throughout, including some light abrasions which show white in the top left corner, visible in the lot image. There is an uneven layer of discolored varnish, notably in a few yellowed areas on the blue background. The white 'clouds' are covered in a layer of surface dirt and are discolored, with minor stains in places. There are white flecks of paint, some chips, cracking and dirt to the painted edges of the box. Unframed.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

Catalogue Note

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