VLADIMIR YAKOVLEV | ABSTRACT COMPOSITION

Collection of Mikhail Grobman, Moscow, 1961

Given to Vitaly Pylnev in an exchange, Moscow, 6th September 1969

Dating from the early abstract period of Yakovlev’s career, the present work originally belonged to Mikhail Grobman who was one of the first people to recognise and appreciate the artist’s talent. A Russian-Israeli artist, poet and one of the leading theorists of the Second Russian Avant-Garde, Mikhail Grobman started collecting works by the non-conformist artists in the late 1950s. Originally acquired by Grobman in 1961, Abstract Composition was later exchanged with fellow collector Vitaly Pylnev, an event meticulously described by Grobman in his diary: ‘After dropping off Yashenka at Eva Ar’s, I went to see Pylnev. I gave him two works by Yakovlev and took the following: nineteen records of classical music, four books, two oklad icons, a Chinese miniature and Japanese engraving, both 18^th century, five drawings and a painting by various artists from the first half of the 20^th century. I met Dima Lion on the street and we went to his first wife's to look at his works. There was a sheet of paper approximately 2 by 3 metres hanging on the wall with some kind of figures depicted on it. He asked me whether it was sellable, as he urgently needed money, but I could not tell him anything comforting. Mitya looked nervous and broken, however he is almost always like that. Pylnev and I went to my place, drank vodka (half a litre), talked about art and listened to music. Irka was with Emma Solom and at the Ryzhys'.’ (6 September 1969)