Skippings Fine Arts has dated these Surrealist Graphite Drawing 1920s to the 1920s.
Her work from this time perfectly captures the introspective and sometimes decadent mood of Central European culture undergoing profound artistic and social change.
The central figure is a towering animal trainer—a solitary figure dressed in the oversized checked trousers and top hat of a stage clown. Instead of the more typical lions and bears, his circus ring is occupied by small, bewildered fish. He uses a delicate whip to command the impossible: one fish stands stiffly on its tail on a tiny stool, while others dutifully queue to ascend a miniature ladder.
This wonderfully bizarre and nonsensical scene is characteristic of the Dada and Surrealist leanings in early 20th-century art, where artists delighted in subverting expectations and capturing the dreamlike imaginary of the subconscious.
Works by Mariette Lydis are held in international collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, and Davidson Galleries in Seattle.
Our original graphite drawing measures 27 x 20 cm in the mount and bears the official Mariette Lydis estate stamp to the lower left. The work is monogrammed by the artist and dated 1925 at the lower right. The overall size in a whitened oak custom frame is 41 x 34 cm.
Skippings Fine Arts has dated these Surrealist Graphite Drawing 1920s to the 1920s.
Modern french & continental pictures selected by a former french auction house expert
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Skippings Fine Arts Profile Page
The Tamer of Fish, 1925 a Silent Circus. Surrealist Original Graphite Drawing on Paper, Woman Artist
