"interior" By Konstantin Isstomin (russian 1887 - 1942)

Abstract interior painting by famous Russian artist and art theorist Konstantin Istomin (1887 Kursk - 1942 Samarkand).
He was born in Kursk in the family of an infantry officer, nephew of the famous Admiral Istomin, hero of the defense of Sevastopol during 1854-1855. In 1901, the Istomin family moved to Vladivostok, and Istomin took evening classes at the local art school. In 1903 the family moved to Kharkov / Ukraine. Istomin frequents the private studio of the Parisian artist E.Schreider, an admirer and follower of the Barbizon school, which strongly influenced Istomin's aesthetic preferences. In 1905, the artist involved in the revolutionary movement, member of the armed labor detachment. The following year, he was arrested by the authorities. 1906-1909- studied with V.Favorsky at the Hollosy school in Munich. 1910-1911 - first exhibitions of his works. in 1912 he visited Greece and Italy, 1909-1913 - studies at Moscow University (art history). His work "Lemons" was exhibited at the 22nd exhibition of the Moscow artists' association. in 1918, after his demobilization from the army, he began to work in Moscow in the visual arts section of the People's Commissariat of Public Education of the Russian Federation. From 1919 to 1920 - service in the Red Army. Combat operations against Denikin as an artillery commander. In 1921-1930 - activity in the Hiher art and technical workshops and the Higher Art and Technical Institute (VHUTEMAS-VKHUTEIN), prorector of Vhutemas and professor of painting. Member of the artistic group "Makovetz" (1922-1923), AHR (1931-1932), member of exhibitions since 1910, also in the USA, Sweden, Austria, Japan. Died in World War II in Samarkand. At the beginning of his career (we estimate our work from the 1910s to the 1920s), his activity as an artist was influenced by French art, in particular by the art of Matisse and the Fauve André Derain.

For a comparison with our work, see additional photos of other works by the artist from this period in the monograph "K.Istomin. Selected Works", Sovetsky Hudoznik edition, Moscow, 1985.

Provenance: Austrian private collection (before purchase at the auction house "Hampel”, Munich, Germany).
Literature: Monograph "K. Istomin. Selected works", Moscow, 1985; MoSolovjev VD "Russian artists of the 18-20th centuries" (in Russian), 2005; Thieme / Becker "Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon" (in German), Lepzig, 1999.
Inscription: signed in Cyrillic lower right left, on the back of the old label with biography of the artist (in German).
Technique: gouache on paper. Vintage gold-plated mount.
Dimensions: unframed 29 x 21 cm; framed 49 x 40 cm.
Condition: in good condition