Lot Essay
The selection of light modulators and objects chosen by Lissitzky to produce this work, along with its scale, suggests that it may be a rather early experimental fotogramm. The varied use of textures, string and circular devices implies an affinity with the early experiments of Moholy-Nagy (see Lot 292) or even Man Ray's first explorations into camera-less imagery. Certainly, by 1924 when Lissitzky executed The Constructor, which combines camera images with applications of the photogram technique and photomontage, he had already reached an ease and facility with the medium that allowed him to create unique and complex compositions.
The dating of this work may be considered slightly conservative considering that Moholy and Lissitzky met in 1921 in Berlin at Moholy's first studio there. According to some accounts they may have discussed photograms at that time. Lissitzky's use of the photogram began possibly as early as 1922, the same year as Moholy and at the same time Man Ray began to work in earnest with the technique. Unlike works by Lissitzky's Hungarian and Parisian colleagues, original photograms that can be fully attributed to him are rare. The work offered here is accompanied by a photo-certificate from Nicolai Kardzhiev, the Soviet art historian and scholar known also for his friendship and support of many of the Soviet Constructivists.
The dating of this work may be considered slightly conservative considering that Moholy and Lissitzky met in 1921 in Berlin at Moholy's first studio there. According to some accounts they may have discussed photograms at that time. Lissitzky's use of the photogram began possibly as early as 1922, the same year as Moholy and at the same time Man Ray began to work in earnest with the technique. Unlike works by Lissitzky's Hungarian and Parisian colleagues, original photograms that can be fully attributed to him are rare. The work offered here is accompanied by a photo-certificate from Nicolai Kardzhiev, the Soviet art historian and scholar known also for his friendship and support of many of the Soviet Constructivists.