DMITRY KRAPIVNY (RUSSIAN 1904-1940)
The Bathers, 1930s
oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm (23 1/8 x 19 7/8 in.)

LOT NOTES
Dmitry Krapivny is known as one of the most prominent students and followers of Pavel Filonov. Few facts from the artist`s short life are known; even his birthdate remains uncertain (1900 or 1904). Together with his close friend, Yevgeniy Kibrik, Krapivny started studying painting at the Odessa Art School in 1922, and continued his studies at VkHUTEIN in Petrograd from 1925. Both artists frequented the studio of Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, until they met Pavel Filonov, who was presenting a lecture on analytical art during an art event. This was a life-changing experience for both artists, leading them to quit the Vkhutein in 1927, as they no longer wanted to follow the academic standards of artistic education. They joined a recently founded studio that became the base of the MAI group [Masters of Analytical Art]. Together with other artists under Filonov`s tuition, Krapivny worked on a myriad of projects, including a large commission of 22 paintings from the Leningrad printing house, the stage design for a theatrical play by Igor Terentiev, and illustrations of the Finnish folk tales Kalevala (lot 238 in this sale). Krapivny participated in all four exhibitions of the MAI group, before separating from the group due to Filonov`s public and governmental persecutions. He continued to work on his own for several years until he died under unclear circumstances. The lack of biographical information, the small amount of works available to the public, the artist`s death at age 36, makes artworks by Dmitry Krapivny offered at auction an extremely rare event.

THIS LOT IS BEING SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE.