$24,000
oil on canvasboard 30 x 40 cm (11 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. ) signed lower left PROVENANCECollection of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Shahn (brother of Ben Shahn)Private Collection, New YorkIn addition to being a highly detailed and accomplished painting, this work is an important historical example of Burliuk's involvement with the greater New York art world. The subject of this painting, Abraham Walkowitz, was an important American modernist artist. Like Burliuk, Walkowitz was an immigrant from Russia, who was born in Tiumen, Siberia. Working closely with Alfred Stieglitz, Walkowitz became a very influential figure in the artistic circles of New York. It is especially interesing to note, then, that this painting was previously in the collection of Phil Shahn, who was the brother of Ben Shahn. Like Walkowitz, Shahn was an influential artist of Jewish roots who also emigrated from Russia (actually Lithuania) at the turn of the century. Shahn would become one of the most influential social realist artists in America. This painting connects three artists with Russian roots who together made an indelible mark on American art history.
Auctioneer:
Shapiro Auctions
Date:
2008-11-05
