Russia in the art-space race, part 6
A final, intriguing piece from the Sotheby’s auctions of Russian art on June 10 and 12: “The Painter” by Pavel Dmitrievich Shmarov (1874-1955). The oil was done in 1940 and was expected to bring between £10,000 and £15,000.
I’d say it’s a fair stab at a Monet with a little Degas drama in the lighting, but there’s more. The artist in the woods seems to be returning our gaze, and what are we doing?
* Getting a load of his models — four of them ready to go, like an assembly line?
* Wondering if we should call the cops?
* Or painting him and his harem?
It’s all so delightfully sordid.
