Lot Essay
To be included in the forthcoming Serge Poliakoff Catalogue Raisonné being prepared by Alexis Poliakoff, the artist's son.
It was in 1952, a year before this work was painted, that Poliakoff had discovered the highly purified Cubo-Futurist art of another pioneer Russian Modernist, the great Kasimir Malevich. This no doubt influenced his decision to tame his palette and simplify his designs. From now on Poliakoff chose his colours carefully, restricting himself to strong shades of red, blue and yellow, building up each composition in blocks of complementary hues. These elements are all deep-rooted in Russian tradition and evince an archaism reminiscent of Russian icons.
This work contains these very elements. The presence of both black and white paint, sensuously applied with a palette knife, breaks up the burning yellows and oranges which, in varying tones, dominate the composition. A dark ground can be glimpsed through the thinly scraped passages, which contributes to the sense of solemnity; however the over-riding feeling achieved by the balance between colours and forms is one of calm.
It was in 1952, a year before this work was painted, that Poliakoff had discovered the highly purified Cubo-Futurist art of another pioneer Russian Modernist, the great Kasimir Malevich. This no doubt influenced his decision to tame his palette and simplify his designs. From now on Poliakoff chose his colours carefully, restricting himself to strong shades of red, blue and yellow, building up each composition in blocks of complementary hues. These elements are all deep-rooted in Russian tradition and evince an archaism reminiscent of Russian icons.
This work contains these very elements. The presence of both black and white paint, sensuously applied with a palette knife, breaks up the burning yellows and oranges which, in varying tones, dominate the composition. A dark ground can be glimpsed through the thinly scraped passages, which contributes to the sense of solemnity; however the over-riding feeling achieved by the balance between colours and forms is one of calm.