Lot Essay
Frances Archipenko Gray has confirmed the authenticity of this drawing.
This drawing, one of the earliest extent works on paper by Archipenko, is related to the sculpture Le Baiser, 1910, and Deux figures, 1912-1913. Archipenko, who had arrived in Paris from Russia in 1908, had exhibited at the Salon d'Automne with the Cubists since 1910, although it was not until 1912 that his work became overtly Cubist in character. The influences on his sculpture during this period were those of archaic and primitive art. Archipenko had an ambivalent response to the work of Rodin, who was the pre-eminent sculptor in Europe at this time. Nevertheless, Archipenko was drawn to Rodin's use of emotionally charged subjects, and the title of the present work is perhaps a nod in the direction of one of Rodin's most famous sculptures.
This drawing, one of the earliest extent works on paper by Archipenko, is related to the sculpture Le Baiser, 1910, and Deux figures, 1912-1913. Archipenko, who had arrived in Paris from Russia in 1908, had exhibited at the Salon d'Automne with the Cubists since 1910, although it was not until 1912 that his work became overtly Cubist in character. The influences on his sculpture during this period were those of archaic and primitive art. Archipenko had an ambivalent response to the work of Rodin, who was the pre-eminent sculptor in Europe at this time. Nevertheless, Archipenko was drawn to Rodin's use of emotionally charged subjects, and the title of the present work is perhaps a nod in the direction of one of Rodin's most famous sculptures.