Thursday, December 26, 2019

Constantin Alajálov in the Style of Henri Matisse

A colorful female nude painted by Constantin Alajálov (1900-1987) is slated to be sold at auction on Monday by Zikorn Arts in New York. It belonged to jazz drummer Teddy Sommer (1924-2017). The auction house, which has held the work for over a year, speculates that it is a preparatory study for a magazine cover or illustration, but I don't see the need for all that. For me, I think it is sufficient to state that this work is a figure study which is executed in the manner of Henri Matisse. It depicts a nude woman wearing a necklace who is posed against a patterned wallpaper background.











Constantin Alajálov
Zikorn Arts Auction Listing Accessed December 25, 2019


Constantin Alajálov
Zikorn Arts Auction Listing Accessed December 25, 2019




Zikorn Arts has been offering the work since 2018, initially estimating it at $1,500-$3,000. 

Teddy Sommer


December 31, 2019 Update:  No sale.
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/constantine-alajalov-cover-study-c.1930s-color-o-01146cbbe8#


Note:  There could easily be more to the story of this work. Perhaps it is copied from a specific Matisse. Perhaps, despite my doubts, it is an actual published illustration, or a study for one. Please comment if you can shed more light on this work.

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