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[FIRST PERSONAL LENTULOV’S SHOW] Vystavka kartin A.V. Lentulova, organizovannaia k 25-letiiu hudozhestvennoi deiatel’nosti. 1908-1933 [i.e. The Exhibition of A.V. Lentulov’s Paintings Organized for the 25th Anniversary of Work Activity. 1908-1933]

Moscow: [Vsekokhudozhnik], 1933. Item #269

34 pp., 1 front., 14 ill. 18x13 cm. In original illustrated wrappers. Small tears of the wrappers. Otherwise a very good copy.

Very rare. One of 1000 copies.
The catalogue of the first personal exhibition of Aristarkh Lentulov (1882-1943), famous Russian avant-garde artist. It includes list of all 254 works from the exhibition (in chronological order), two short biographical notes about the artist and his work, 15 black and white reproductions not including ‘Cracking’ on the front cover. Exhibition included paintings and sketches of theatre costumes and set designs.
From 1912 Lentulov became a major influence on Russian futurism and in particular cubo-Futurism. He was one of the co-founders of the famous avant-garde group ‘Jack of Diamonds’, and participated in its exhibitions between 1909 and 1916. This catalogue is a testament to the Lentulov’s work during the ‘Jack of Diamonds’ period.
Interesting that this exhibition happened in 1933 when Soviet directive for socialist realism already was in action and the beginning of the 1930s marked the end of Russian avant-garde. His late turn to realism and Soviet industrial subjects caused his exception and praises by Soviet critics as well as work with ‘Jack of Diamonds’ which some considered leftist (or at least they interpreted some of his works like that).

Worldcat locates two copies in US libraries (The Frick Art Reference Library, Getty Research Institute).

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