Lot 137: Four Pencil Sketches by Vladimir Tatlin

Four sketches by Vladimir Tatlin (1885-1953) – figures.
Four pencil sketches, on three sheets of paper. Not signed.
Vladimir Tatlin (Владимир Татлин, 1885-1953), a Russian artist and architect, a leader of the Russian avant-garde movement in the 1920s and a pioneer of the Constructivist movement. In 1919, he was invited by the Department of Fine Arts of the People's Commissariat for Education to plan a monument to the Third International which will also serve as the headquarters of the Comintern (the international organization of the communist parties). The structure planned by Tatlin, a spiral structure inspired by the Eifel Tower, was meant to be built from industrial materials such as iron, steel and glass and to a large extent reflected the vision of Constructivist art. The plan for the monument to the Third International is considered today Tatlin's most well-known work; however, the monument itself was never built (both for practical reasons and due to the change for the worse in the authorities' attitude towards the avant-garde art).
Three leaves, 40.5X26.5 cm to 44.5X32 cm. Condition varies. Stains. Tears to edges.
Provenance: The collection of A.N. Korsakova, Tatlin's widow (as indicated by the penciled notes on verso).
Provenance: The collection of Uzi Agassi.