Lot 127: Arkady Remennik (1928- ), Russian SPIRIT OF

Arkady Remennik (1928- ), Russian SPIRIT OF WINTER; Engraving on paper; signed, dated 1986 and inscribed in cryillics "engraving on paper" lower right. Printed in an edition 3. Unframed. Plate 5.5" x 7.9" - 14 x 20 cm.

Literature:Remennik's unique patented method of creating his engravings on paper was the subject of Karine Rashkovsky's article, "Arkady Remennik: Portraits of Artistic Victory in the Face of a Repressive Regime" that appeared in the: "Journal of the Print World", Vol. 31, No. 1, Winter 2008, pg. 24 and Rashkovsky's article: "One-man Revolution" in the magazine, "Printmaking Today", Vol. 17, No. 2, Summer 2008, pg. 13 in which a similar landscape view is illustrated.

Studio of the artist while living in Galitsino with his parents near Moscow since 1932 to circa 1963 when he moved to Moscow; family collection, Toronto

Note:Remennik's works were often made while riding on Soviet trains half a century ago. This watercolour and the following 4 lots are studies Arkady made on his daily trip from the village of Galitsino to work in Moscow. Arkady worked on the train spontaneously capturing the likeness and character of the sitter with a scratching tool which he would later colour and further embellish in his studio in Galitsino. The holes, small tears or creases in the sheet were the result of his working technique and self expression. The materials used to create the drawings as in this lot were executed on the verso of a Soviet poster due to the shortage of paper at the time. These faces and the manner in which they were executed were personal expressions not intended for sale however they captured most successfully, like no other artist, the mood of regular people at that time in the Soviet Union. These faces reflect the weight of the time in which they were completed. Remennik's process of creating his engravings involved the scratching out technique on paper employed in his watercolours. The scratched out design on paper then became the plate from which he printed small editions of approximately three impressions. Due to the nature of the paper plate, the prints in the run showed variations. These works and the mood of the people they reflect, are of an era that no longer exists and have great historical importance. The scene depicts the snow covered rooftops of the scenery near the place Remennik often skied.