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an abstract painting of a cross on a white background
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15 - 15. * Vladimir Igorevich Yakovlev (Russian, 1934–1998)
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Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
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Description
15. * Vladimir Igorevich Yakovlev (Russian, 1934–1998) La Croix/ The Cross signed in Cyrillic and dated ‘69’ (bottom right) gouache on paper 81.6 x 54.2 cm (32 1/8 x 21 5/16 in). Provenance Acquired directly from the artist in Moscow Collection of Eric Peschler, Switzerland Thence by descent to the present owner Movement and a love of life were the two qualities that most profoundly defined Vladimir Yakovlev’s artistic language. Although his work belongs to the sphere of unofficial Soviet art, it cannot be associated with any particular group or artistic movement. He forged his own unique path. A solitary artist marked by a tragic fate and physical disability, Yakovlev succeeded in expressing profound philosophical ideas, meditations on God, and the tragic dimensions of human existence through a remarkably direct and accessible visual language. The economy of his means brings Yakovlev’s paintings into close affinity with the tradition of the icon. Flowers, portraits rendered in just a few brushstrokes, and animals were among the themes to which he returned repeatedly, exploring and refining them across numerous works throughout his career. Yakovlev’s life was deeply tragic. Suffering from both physical and psychological illness, he was forced to spend much of his life in the harsh conditions of Soviet psychiatric institutions. Yet his near-total loss of sight and prolonged isolation paradoxically enabled him to develop a unique vision of the immaterial essence of things, a perception of harmony extending beyond the harsh reality of his own existence. Like many underground non-conformist artists, Yakovlev worked largely in obscurity, creating art ‘for the drawer’ and remaining known primarily to the small circle of visitors who attended private exhibitions in his flat. His first solo exhibition was held in 1977, but full recognition of his artistic achievement did not come until the 1990s.
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About the sale The Eric A. Peschler Collection: Non-Conformist Art of the Soviet Era
Auction location
Auction time 10/05/2026 at 12:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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