THEODORE ROSZAK (1907-1981)
Studies for Constructions. Pencil on graph paper. 210x275 mm; 8x10¾ inches. Annotated, signed and dated in pencil, recto, and signed, dated and inscribed "N.Y.C." in pencil, verso. 1933.Provenance: Artist's estate. Multiple studies on a single sheet for an unidentified Construction and likely Involution (White Construction), the latter 1932-33, plaster, wood, enamel and fiberglass, held by the Theodore Roszak Estate, New York. An exhibition titled "Theodore Roszak: Constructions: 1932-1945" was held at Zabriskie Gallery, New York, October 31-December 2, 1978.Theodore Roszak was a Polish-born American artist who experimented in several mediums including photography, sculpture, painting, and print making throughout his career. During a fellowship in Prague, Roszak was introduced to the aesthetics and ideology of Constructivism. He explored the Constructivist movement mainly through three-dimensional structures created from plaster, metal, and wood. Roszak was first introduced to the practice of photography in the 1930s when he began photographing his sculptural work in the studio. Inspired by Moholy-Nagy, Roszak quickly began experimenting with photograms and incorporated his constructivist style into his photographic compositions. Virginia Zabriskie was drawn to artists who could successfully demonstrate the link between sculpture and photography and the similarity of their depiction of formal compositional elements. Zabriskie was an early supporter of Roszak's career and continued to work extensively with the Theodore Roszak Estate.