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Lot 70
Boris Dmitrievich Grigor'ev (1886-1939)
Russian Peasant Woman
Price Realised
USD 360,000
More Information
Boris Dmitrievich Grigor'ev (1886-1939)
Russian Peasant Woman
signed and dated 'Boris Grigorieff 1923 Paris' (lower left), on reverse: signed and inscribed 'Boris Grigorieff à chere Madame Atwater de Son ami Boris Grigorieff New York' with partial exhibition label from the The New Gallery, New York
gouache and watercolor on board
14¾ x 24¼ in. (37.5 x 61.6 cm.)
Painted in 1923
Russian Peasant Woman
signed and dated 'Boris Grigorieff 1923 Paris' (lower left), on reverse: signed and inscribed 'Boris Grigorieff à chere Madame Atwater de Son ami Boris Grigorieff New York' with partial exhibition label from the The New Gallery, New York
gouache and watercolor on board
14¾ x 24¼ in. (37.5 x 61.6 cm.)
Painted in 1923
Boris Dmitrievich Grigor'ev (1886-1939)
Russian Peasant Woman
signed and dated 'Boris Grigorieff 1923 Paris' (lower left), on reverse: signed and inscribed 'Boris Grigorieff à chere Madame Atwater de Son ami Boris Grigorieff New York' with partial exhibition label from the The New Gallery, New York
gouache and watercolor on board
14¾ x 24¼ in. (37.5 x 61.6 cm.)
Painted in 1923
Russian Peasant Woman
signed and dated 'Boris Grigorieff 1923 Paris' (lower left), on reverse: signed and inscribed 'Boris Grigorieff à chere Madame Atwater de Son ami Boris Grigorieff New York' with partial exhibition label from the The New Gallery, New York
gouache and watercolor on board
14¾ x 24¼ in. (37.5 x 61.6 cm.)
Painted in 1923
Collection of Adeline Atwater (Pynchon), circa 1923.
Acquired from the above by the present owner, circa 1975.
Acquired from the above by the present owner, circa 1975.
Exhibition of Paintings by Boris Grigoriev, January 4 - February 3, 1924, Worcester Art Museum, MA, 1924, No. 35.
Russian Peasant Woman is part of the second most well known series of works entitled Visages de Russie or Faces of Russia (1921-1924). Following the theme started in the earlier series Raseia or Russia (1917-1922) the artist developed new and transformed images of Russia, influenced by the Russian iconographic tradition and presenting poetic and generalized vision of his motherland.
In the letter to Dr. Brinton dated December 4, 1922 and published as an introduction in the catalogue for the Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by Boris Grigoriev, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA. 1923, Grigor'ev described the importance of the new series: "You ask me how I came to paint the series of pictures entitled Visages Russes. I have been watching and studying the Russian people for many years, both before and since the war and revolution and these paintings are the fruits of my observation. If, during the revolution, I have been studying the people so intently, and if the work I have done at this period manifests its spirit so frankly and strongly, it may be due to the fact that circumstances compelled me to remain in Russia so long without leaving. My conception of the Russian people is both intuitive and artistic. Even as a child I was struck by the animal aspect of the Russian people. It is this same animal that I see in the Russian peasant of today 'Right', 'left', 'white', 'red', or 'black', the Russian are animals, and that is why the colouring of my Visages Russes is the typical mujik colouring."
Fig. 1 Photograph of Lot 70 in situ at Exhibition of Paintings by Boris Grigoriev at Worcester Art Museum, 1924.
Fig. 2 Title page of the exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum, 1924.
In the letter to Dr. Brinton dated December 4, 1922 and published as an introduction in the catalogue for the Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by Boris Grigoriev, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA. 1923, Grigor'ev described the importance of the new series: "You ask me how I came to paint the series of pictures entitled Visages Russes. I have been watching and studying the Russian people for many years, both before and since the war and revolution and these paintings are the fruits of my observation. If, during the revolution, I have been studying the people so intently, and if the work I have done at this period manifests its spirit so frankly and strongly, it may be due to the fact that circumstances compelled me to remain in Russia so long without leaving. My conception of the Russian people is both intuitive and artistic. Even as a child I was struck by the animal aspect of the Russian people. It is this same animal that I see in the Russian peasant of today 'Right', 'left', 'white', 'red', or 'black', the Russian are animals, and that is why the colouring of my Visages Russes is the typical mujik colouring."
Fig. 1 Photograph of Lot 70 in situ at Exhibition of Paintings by Boris Grigoriev at Worcester Art Museum, 1924.
Fig. 2 Title page of the exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum, 1924.