Masterpiece: The Blank Page: A Writer's Still Life, Ca 1947 Russian Avant Garde Woman Artist in New York Oil on Canvas

I am absolutely delighted to present a work by the Russian avant garde woman artist Alexandra Pregel (b.1907). If I say avant garde, I do not say it lightly! Alexandra was the daughter of a talented and independent woman who received a Doctor of Philosophy in the early 1900s, and of a Russian revolutionary. Her parents were married in 1906, while imprisoned for political reasons. They escaped separately, were reunited, but in then in 1909 divorced. The Russian poet, critic and art collector Mikhail Zetlin became Alexandra's stepfather. Two years after the October Revolution, the Zetlins emigrated to Paris. Their Parisian apartment, called by many “Paradise Salon,” was an artistic and cultural center where many exiled Russian politicians, intellectuals and artists gathered. Alexandra had her portrait painted by Diego Riviera and Léon Bakst.

She acquired her love for books early, and the came to feature regularly in her art.

In 1921, Alexandra began to study painting at the Montparnasse studio of the Russian artists, Vasili Shukhaev and Alexandr Yakovlev, and then continued at the École des Arts Décoratifs, graduating in 1928. A year later, she began to work with the leading Russian avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova.

Between 1935 and 1939, Alexandra exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants and in 1938 at the Salon d’Automne. In 1938, she also had her first personal exhibition at the Gallery de l’Elysée.

When the Nazis occupied Paris, Alexandra—together with her husband, Boris Pregel fled to New York. She was forced to leave behind the entire body of work she had produced, around 300 paintings, which were spoiliated.

She managed to start from scratch in the US, exhibiting at Milch Gallery, The National Academy of Design in New York, the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh and the Wildenstein Gallery, New York.

He work was shown back in Europe at the 1947 exhibition of the

Gallery de L’Elysée, Paris “Painting in the U.S.A.”, alongside works Georgia O’Keefe and Salvador Dali. The painting presented here dates from this period. It has lovely provenance, having belonged to Frances Patiky Stein (1937-2021), the fashion editor, muse and designer who worked for Halston and Calvin Klein before reviving the House of Chanel for which she worked as head jewellery designer.

It is certainly no coincidence that the painting, with its beautiful simplicity and elegant lines appealed to a woman who was icon of style.

Measuring 38 x 55 cm, the oil on canvas, dating from circa 1947-50 is signed at the centre right, within the composition, on the blank page of a book.

The overall size in its original frame is 46 x 63 cm.

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.