Léopold SURVAGE (1879-1968). - Lot 279

Léopold SURVAGE (1879-1968). Female nude from behind. Graphite on paper. Signed lower right Enriched with the studio stamp. H_27 cm L_40.5 cm. Léopold Survage (1879-1968) was a Franco-Russian painter of Finnish origin, an important figure in the avant-garde of the early 20th century. Born in Moscow, he studied music before turning to painting. He moved to Paris in 1908, where he frequented modern artistic circles and developed a style combining cubism, orphism and symbolism. He is best known for his innovative "Rythmes colorés" project (1913-1914), a series of abstract drawings designed to be animated and accompanied by music, making him a precursor of abstract film and visual music. Although this project was not realized at the time, it heralded the experiments of video art and abstract animation. Naturalized French in 1917, Survage pursued an active career, exhibiting in Europe and also working on sets and tapestries. His work evolved towards a more figurative symbolism, blending dream, mythology and spirituality.