At the beach

Details

Konstantin Andreevich Somov (1869-1939)
At the beach
signed and dated 'C. Somov/1932' (lower left)
pencil, watercolour and gouache on paper laid down on card
5¼ x 7 3/16 in. (13.4 x 18.3 cm.)
Together with a large pencil study consisting of six adjoined sheets of paper depicting a beach scene. There are various studies on the reverse, one of which is a study for the present work, 'At the beach'.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

Somov was interested in the theme of the beach before 1932; in 1928 whilst staying at the Rachmaninov's country house in Villiers he executed many studies of the beach: Following my work in Villiers, I decided to paint a beach scene.
Letter dated 9 August 1928, p. 341

In preparation for his 1930 London exhibition, Somov completed the watercolour 'Beach scene with figures'. In 1932 he painted two further versions of this composition with numerous figures. One was taken to the United States by I. Vengerova, the other was donated to F. Samoilenko.

Somov wrote: It is a challenge for me to overcome my fears and stagnation and not to stay on the oft-travelled path.
Letter dated 12 January 1932, p. 390

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