Ossip Zadkine

M Castaing, Paris (acquired by 1921)
Sale: Enghien, Paris, June 14, 1981, lot 81
Sale: Drouot-Montaigne, Paris, November 24, 1988, lot 24
Private Collection, Switzerland (and sold: Loudmer, Paris, November 22, 1993, lot 61)
Private Collection, London 
Acquired from the above in 2010

Paris, Galerie Vallois, Hommage à Ossip Zadkine, n.n. illustrated in the catalogue 

Sylvain Lecombre, Ossip Zadkine, L'Oeuvre sculpté, Paris, 1994, no. 86, illustrated p. 141

This work is in excellent condition and has aged beautifully. Carved in stone. It is structurally sound. No apparent scratches to the surface. Minor wear to sharp edges consistent with age. Light buildup of surface dirt in deepest crevices. There is a dark seam running down the right figure's left hip and thigh but this appears to be inherent to the medium.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Following in the footsteps of Picasso and Léger, Zadkine moved past a rigorous interpretation of Cubism by the time the present work was carved. Zadkine declared "as soon as I freed myself from Cubism, my work showed a return to something which has always given me pleasure, a return to the visible object, to the complete transformation of Nature. Underlying my creations, there is a sense of freedom, freedom to create a whole world thanks to my having rediscoved the true nature of my own personality" (Ionel Jianou, Zadkine, Paris, 1964, p. 38).

The solid hieratic structure of Groupe de figures also expresses Zadkine's interest in primitive and African sculpture. Here he constructs the human body through geometric forms arranged in a rhythmic manner. This play of concave and convex shapes creates an undulating surface that brings out the rough texture of the porous stone he used. The influence of Modigliani can be strongly felt as well. Modigliani's unearthly stone Têtes were first exhibited in the Salon d'Automne of 1912 in the famous Salle des Cubistes alongside works by Léger, Kupka and other Cubists.