La Dame de Pique. [The Queen of Spades].

A finely bound example - one of only 25 copies. A beautiful copy of Shukhaev's La Dame de Pique with two additional suites.

Pushkin's much loved story The Queen of Spades illustrated by the artist Vasiliy Shukhaev who was a member of Mir Isskustva and studied under master draughtsman, Dmitry Kardovsky. Shukhaev along with other influential members of the movement such as Benois and Somov, 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 ctheir extremism.

He never betrayed his allegiance to the canons of the rococo period and his pochoir illustrations to The Queen of Spades demonstrated his endeavour to maintain the elegance and measured taste of the Mir Isskustva. The Moscow Museum of Modern Art exhibited a large-scale retrospective exhibition of Shukhaev in 2014 of which his illustrations of La Dame de Pique were a highlight.

Limited edition, one of 25 copies on japon impérial, from a total edition of 345; 4to (24 x 17 cm); translated by André Gide and Jacques Schiffrin, signed 'J. Sch' on the limitation page, foreword by Gide, illustrations in colour by Shukhaev including 7 plates hors-texte, with two additional suites of 19 illustrations each, loose in a separate portfolio, one in colour on japon and one in black on chine, with tissue guards, a.e.g.; 20th century fine binding by Hélène Cauchetier, full green morocco with original wrappers bound in, upper cover with playing card motif inlay design of various colours, doublures with green patterned paper guards, green marbled endpapers, chemise and slip-case, extra suites in a corresponding chemise, an excellent example.