Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin

The present lot belongs to the series of nocturnes, which Korovin worked on in Russia and France during the 1910s-1920s. In these works, women are depicted standing by open windows or doors, with the artist mixing plein air and interior scenes to explore the contrast between artificial and natural light. 

The bustling Parisian night visible through the window in the right half of the composition provides a striking contrast to the room, filled with the warm glow of the candlelight. An imposing female figure occupies the foreground on the left, with the artist focusing on several distinct elements to convey the scene’s overall atmosphere. One’s attention is captured, in particular, by the elegant gesture of the hand with which she is holding her cloak, her jewellery, and the flowers. Such mixing of genres – portraiture, interior scene, and still life – is common for Korovin’s works from this series. In its compositional set-up, Portrait of a Lady is comparable to After the Ball (1917), sold at Sotheby’s in June 2017 (fig.1), and both possess a similar mood. However, the present lot is more intimate and sensual as it comprises a colour palette made up of warm yellows and deep reds, which are both very typical for the artist. In the 1910s, Korovin produced work for the stage, and most of his portraits from this period are of prominent figures from the performing arts. Even though the sitter’s identity, in this case, is unknown, her posture and the flowers, possibly from a bouquet she received after a performance, suggest she could also be part of that circle.