Karev [1927] [Exhibition catalog]

Near fine condition. Cover edges are wrapped and show some fraying, small chips on the corners, and yellowing to the edges, couple of light stains on the back cover, bookstore stamp on the inner side of back cover; internally almost perfect.

Alexei Karev (1879—1942) - Russian painter, graphic artist, teacher who have made a significant contribution to the Leningrad School of Painting. Influenced by the French Symbolists (late 1900s) and Post-Impressionists (early 1910s), painted cityscapes of Petrograd/Leningrad (late 1910s–1930s). Contributed to the exhibitions of "Zolotoe runo" (Golden Fleece, 1908-09), "Mir iskusstva" (World of Art, 1917–24), "Soyuz Molodyozhi" (Union of the Youth, 1919), "Chetyre iskusstva" (Four Arts 1926-1927) and one-man show at the Russian Museum in Leningrad (1927).

Current catalogue of the Kariev’s personal exhibition compiled by art historian Vera Anikieva, who was also a curator of the State Russian museum in Leningrad where the current event took place in 1927. It includes two introductory articles. The first one by Pyotr Neradovski (head of the Art department of the State Russian Museum) focused on the problems of contemporary art in general, and on choosing Karev’s works for one-man show among other modern artists, in particular. In the second article Nikolay Punin (head of the Department of Newest Trends in Russian Museum) known as the leading ideologist of the "Left Art", gives an overwiew of Karev’s life and work describing his years of study and creative search. Exhibition covers all the stages of artist’s creative way, beginning from the early works produced under Boris-Musatov influence and ending with latest realist depictions. In total on display were 79 objects - paintings and drawings. Most of the exhibits were provided by Leningrad's lawyer and art collector Iosif Rybakov (1880–1938). Artworks listed in the catalog by year of creation with indicating title, used technique, dimensions, exhibitions at which artwork was displayed before. Catalog is richly illustated with five plates, four cuts and one color drawing on the front wrapper.