Mihail Chemiakin (Russian, b. 1943) Untitled, Paris, 1979

Untitled, Paris, 1979

Gouache, watercolor and ink on paper

Image size: 23 1/2 × 16 1/2 in. (59.7 × 41.9 cm)

Frame size: 31 1/2 × 24 1/2 in. (80 × 62.2 cm)

Signed, inscribed “Paris,” and dated 1979 lower left.

Created during Chemiakin’s important Paris period, this striking large-format work on paper is a powerful example of the artist’s distinctive metaphysical imagery. A complex fantastical figure emerges from an intricate arrangement of elongated, fragmented, and transformed forms against a finely worked grayish background.

Following his forced departure from the Soviet Union in 1971, Chemiakin settled in Paris, where he continued to develop the radical artistic language that had placed him outside the boundaries of officially sanctioned Soviet art. His work rejected the conventions of Socialist Realism in favor of a highly individual world of metamorphosis, theatricality, symbolism, and grotesque.

Executed in 1979, this composition reflects the extraordinary freedom and imagination of Chemiakin’s mature Paris period while retaining the experimental spirit of Russian Nonconformist Art. Monumental in presence despite its medium, the work is distinguished by its bold composition, intricate execution, and exceptional visual impact.

Condition: Very good