Vasily Ivanovich Shukhaev, Alexander Pushkin

A finely bound, limited edition of Pushkin and Shukhaev’s La Dame de Pique with two additional suites, signed 'J. Sch'. 

• Alexander Pushkin (Russian).
• Vasily Shukhaev (Russian).
• Paris, J Schiffrin & Cie., 1923.
• One of twenty-five limited-edition copies, from a total edition of 345.
• On japon impérial.
• Translated by André Gide and Jacques Schiffrin, signed J. Sch on the limitation page, foreword by Gide, illustrations in color by Shukhaev including 7 plates hors-texte, with two additional suites of 19 illustrations each, loose in a separate portfolio, one in color on japon and one in black on chine, with tissue guards, a.e.g.
• 20th century fine binding by Hélène Cauchetier, full green morocco with original wrappers bound in, upper cover with playing card motif inlay design of various colors, doubles with green patterned paper guards, green marbled endpapers.
• Chemise and slipcase, extra suites in a corresponding chemise.

Pushkin’s much loved story The Queen of Spades illustrated by the artist Vasiliy Shukhaev who was a member of Mir Isskustva and studied under master draughtsman Dmitry Kardovsky. Shukhaev, along with other influential members of the movement such as Benois and Somov, was inspired by the paintings of Watteau and Fragonard. Although closely associated with Russian avant-garde painters, Shukhaev be it consciously or unconsciously fought against their extremism.

He never betrayed his allegiance to the canons of the rococo period and his pochoir illustrations to The Queen of Spades demonstrated his endeavor to maintain the elegance and measured taste of the Mir Isskustva. The Moscow Museum of Modern Art exhibited a large-scale retrospective exhibition of Shukhaev in 2014 of which his illustrations of La Dame de Pique were a highlight.