A Group of 25 Hand-Colored Art Deco, Avant-Garde and Constructivist Pochoirs by Russian Émigré Artists, 1920s
Item #1390
A rare and visually stunning suite of 25 original pochoir illustrations produced in Paris and New York in the 1920s by Russian émigré and French artists, including Alexander Schadrine (variously signed “A. Schadrine,” “Schadrine,” or “A.S.”), Édouard Halouze, the mononymous REAL, and several unidentified contributors. Executed in vibrant hand-stenciled gouache over printed outlines, these works exemplify the luxurious pochoir technique—widely used in the interwar period for haute couture albums, avant-garde illustration, and deluxe limited editions. The sheets vary in size, generally between 15–20 cm in height, and most are mounted as folding cards, hand-bound with silk cord; others are single-leaf prints with deckled or straight edges. Several designs reappear as offset-printed postcards issued by A. Yaremenko, New York in the 1960s.
Thematically, the works draw heavily on Slavic folklore, Russian Orthodox architecture, stylized peasant life, and theatrical performance. Particularly striking are Schadrine’s fanciful renderings of troikas, nativity scenes, and folk dancers, marked by stylized patterning and rhythmic color fields. Halouze’s contributions lean toward fashionable Deco abstraction, such as a dynamic female skier in pink, while others verge into Cubist or Constructivist aesthetics—especially in a pair of boldly geometric figures whose faceted bodies echo Russian avant-garde design. Several compositions embrace narrative whimsy, such as a tea-drinking babushka seated at a festive samovar table, or a galloping Cossack in folkloric garb. The contrast between the hand-colored originals and their 1960s reproductions reveals the exquisite luminosity and textural richness that pochoir uniquely achieves.
Among the more unexpected highlights are the monochrome and duotone winter scenes by the enigmatic REAL, whose simplified, dramatic silhouettes and moody chiaroscuro offer a quiet, contemplative counterpoint to the otherwise jubilant palette. The consistent excellence of execution, rich visual idiom, and pristine condition—most works graded Very Good to Near Fine—speak to their origin in high-end production studios catering to émigré and cosmopolitan tastes in interwar Paris and New York.
Price: $1,000.00