Paris, Schiffrin, 1925
With a large original signed gouache. Vasiliy Shukhaev was a member of Mir Isskustva and studied under master draughtsman, Dmitry Kardovsky. Along with other influential members of the movement such as Benois and Somov, Shukhaev was inspired by the paintings of Watteau and Fragonard. Although closely associated with Russian avant-garde painters, Shukhaev be it consciously or unconsciously fought against their extremism.
For his illustrations for Boris Godunov, Shukhaev drew inspiration from icon painting traditions of the 16th-17th centuries, combining it with the dramatic shapes and bold colours typical for Russian art from Paris in the 1920s. The striking planar compositions are beautifully achieved in pochoir and the present example is exceptionally bright.
This was the second work from Jacques Schiffrin and Shukhaev after their first collaboration La Dame de Pique (1923) was such a great success. Schiffrin was born in Baku and fled the Russian Empire after the Revolution. He began publishing works in Paris as he was passionate about literature and went on to translate Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky and Turgenev himself.
First edition, limited edition, number 365 of 390 copies on vergé, from a total edition of 430, signed 'J. Sch' (the publisher) on the justification page; 4to (31 x 24 cm); 18 full page hand-coloured pochoir plates by V. Shukhaev, with tissue guards, decorative bands and tailpieces throughout, some minor spotting; twentieth century tree calf over marbled boards, spine in parts and elaborately gilt, labels in red and green, covers slightly rubbed and corners bumped, original printed brown wrappers bound in, a fine example [with] a large original gouache of one of the plates on paper covered thick card (35 x 27.5 cm), signed and dated 1924 in the bottom right hand corner.
For his illustrations for Boris Godunov, Shukhaev drew inspiration from icon painting traditions of the 16th-17th centuries, combining it with the dramatic shapes and bold colours typical for Russian art from Paris in the 1920s. The striking planar compositions are beautifully achieved in pochoir and the present example is exceptionally bright.
This was the second work from Jacques Schiffrin and Shukhaev after their first collaboration La Dame de Pique (1923) was such a great success. Schiffrin was born in Baku and fled the Russian Empire after the Revolution. He began publishing works in Paris as he was passionate about literature and went on to translate Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky and Turgenev himself.
First edition, limited edition, number 365 of 390 copies on vergé, from a total edition of 430, signed 'J. Sch' (the publisher) on the justification page; 4to (31 x 24 cm); 18 full page hand-coloured pochoir plates by V. Shukhaev, with tissue guards, decorative bands and tailpieces throughout, some minor spotting; twentieth century tree calf over marbled boards, spine in parts and elaborately gilt, labels in red and green, covers slightly rubbed and corners bumped, original printed brown wrappers bound in, a fine example [with] a large original gouache of one of the plates on paper covered thick card (35 x 27.5 cm), signed and dated 1924 in the bottom right hand corner.
About us
Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.
Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.
We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
