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Lot Essay
We are grateful to Mr. Erik La Prade for his assistance in cataloguing this work.
The present work was one of a number of studies and portraits made in preparation for the large-scale metaphysical painting Phenomena of 1936-1938 and gives us important insight into how Tchelitchew created one of his most iconic paintings. Allegorical Composition relates to the upper left hand corner of the finished painting. The two figures sitting on the ground are Gertrude Stein and her companion Alice Tolkas, also referred to as "Sitting Bull and the Knitting Maniac." An alternate title for this study is Guardians of the Threshold. In the finished picture, Stein and Tolkas symbolize hoarders, sitting upon and guarding their famous painting collection.
The present work was one of a number of studies and portraits made in preparation for the large-scale metaphysical painting Phenomena of 1936-1938 and gives us important insight into how Tchelitchew created one of his most iconic paintings. Allegorical Composition relates to the upper left hand corner of the finished painting. The two figures sitting on the ground are Gertrude Stein and her companion Alice Tolkas, also referred to as "Sitting Bull and the Knitting Maniac." An alternate title for this study is Guardians of the Threshold. In the finished picture, Stein and Tolkas symbolize hoarders, sitting upon and guarding their famous painting collection.