Russia in the art-space race, part 5
Both the pious and and the profane had a look in at the Sotheby’s auctions of Russian art on June 10 and 12.
Above, what at first glance seems to be dinnerware with a Muslim motif is in fact a piece of Soviet propaganda from the 1920s, a plate made by the Higher State Art-Technical Studios, known as VkhUTEMAS.
The figure from the Caucasus kneels before a hammer and sickle, surrounded by an Arabic transliteration of the Russian slogan “Workers of the World United” and images of labourers and a factory.
Sotheby’s, which was counting on between £5,000 and £7,000 for the piece, explained that VkhUTEMAS was similar to the German Bauhaus in intent and scope, merging traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.
Then there was the jolly watercolour “Bacchante” of Count Mihaly von Zichy (1827-1906), below, and you really have to wonder about the models. If they had to hold that pose for a long time, didn’t she get itchy? Someone liked the painting enough to pay £15,000 for it.
As a bearded one I would expect itchy and demonically sated.
Mmmm, sated. That’s not you in the painting, is it, Z? Thanks for registering!