Lot 36: Aleksandr Evgen'evich Iakovlev (1887-1938)

Aleksandr Evgen'evich Iakovlev (1887-1938)
Dessins et peintures d'Afrique, exécutés au cours de l'Expédition Citröen Centre Afrique. Paris: Meynial, 1927.

Folio 16 x 12¼ in. (40.6 x 31.1 cm.) 29 pages of text, 1 drawing, 50 color plates after Iakovlev, text with illustrations stiched in original decorated limp cloth, loose as issued in original Morocco portfolio, no. 487 of 750 copies, deluxe edition.

In 1924 Alexandr Iakovlev was invited by Georges-Marie Haardt, leader of the Citroën-sponsored motorized expeditions to join them in the capacity of the official artist on La Croisière Noire . The expedition travelled from Algeria to Madagascar with the intention of exploring the possibility of a railroad route to connect French outposts in northern and eastern Africa. Iakovlev sketched, with his usual understanding of people, the tribes and landscapes he encountered and finished larger works in his studio in Paris.