Posted 6 years ago
kwqd
(1121 items)
I found these today at a Habitat for Humanity Restore in Peoria, IL. I am showing them together as I think they are related. I am showing front and verso of each work in that order. At first I thought that they were prints, but both seem to be rendered on some type of textured paper that gives that impression. They may be monotypes or a watercolor and a monotype, so I am classifying them as prints. Really not sure. The city square scene is 3 1/2" h x 4 1/8" w and the bridge scene is 3 1/8" h x 4 7/8" w. Both are modestly matted and framed under glass in plain wood frames with string for hangers. The first is signed indistinctly in the image and the second is signed on the mat, but not in them image. Verso, on the city square scene is a notation in a language that I have not identified that ends with the name of the artist that signed the mat in the second painting, so I am guessing both are by the same artist. The inscription verso on the bridge scene is similar in format to the first and are maybe the title and name of the artist? Any help in deciphering this writing would be appreciated. I will be opening these up since both have backings that I am certain are acidic. I will insert some acid free backing between the works and the current backing to preserve the writing. I will post any further findings. Thanks!
Hi,
These aren't painted by the same artist. You can find so many 'rainy street painting(s)' if u do a google image search. Some of them look very much like yours. The second painting, or they may both prints, is in a completely different style than the first, not done by the first artist.
You may have the correct signatures on each of their own paintings. The signature on the first pic has some similarities with the last signature on the right. The second painting is signed by the same artist whose name is on the back.
Thanks for your comment, Gillian. Different styles don't preclude works being done by the same artist. I have been collecting paintings and original prints for about 20 years and have over 2,000 paintings and original prints in my collection and have numerous works by some artists that used several different styles especially if they are working in different mediums, for instance, watercolors and some type of print medium. Also, artist's signatures can change over time, or even frequently, depending on the care they take in signing, especially if they don't use a "unique" signature. A good example on my web site is May Jones Perkins on my Illinois Artists page (http://kevindaniel.x10.mx/illinois.html). Some of her linocuts and other prints that I haven't photographed look even less like her other works. Her style often varied even when using the same medium. If I hadn't known her I would never have thought many of her works were by the same artist.
When I opened these little works, I found that both are done on the same rather unusual paper, too. I found no other clues by doing so, though.
I'm not sure I see the connection either graphically especially since the first painting has a different name in the signature. At least it's a Russian name on the second, "A. V. Kuzmin" if you want to look further. Could refer to "Ardalion Valentinovich Kuzmin", for example a russian artist or "Aleksandr Vladimirovich Kuzmin" another to look for.
There's a Yuri Kuzmin that paints a lot of rainy street scenes but the style is different. His signature: https://images.aspireauctions.com/auctions/2009FEB/large/25579-06.jpg
...and a Nikolay Kuzmin also to look for. Seems to be a common name (at least for artists!)
Thanks for the comments, OlofZ. the connection may only be because the same person collected and made notations on both. Thanks for the translation and leads! Not sure how to explain the common paper used on both.... It is some kind of woven paper, not typical printing paper. It is possible that someone cut these from a portfolio of works by a group of artists. They may be lithographs. Next time I go back to the thrift shop, I'll dig into their pile and see if there are more of these. They were only $.50 each, so just a research opportunity, but the language barrier had me stopped. It is puzzling that the name of the same artist appears on the notes verso on one and in the mat on the other. A mistake?
Or am I misreading the names and they are actually different?
I do wish I'd known your art background before I wrote my reply ;>/ The only thing I can add here, is to ask you if, after 20 yrs. of collecting, and over 2,000 various prints, some original, some not, you have a few magnifying glasses in your working area? And, most likely a large magnifying lamp. These two things, and maybe more, would be invaluable for deciphering artists' signatures etc. Also, an original print would come from a limited run. These would be signed, and numbered. So, if you had bought a print that has for example, 100/200 penciled on the bottom then you had the 100th print from a run of only 200. The closer to the middle print the better.
I wont start on paper! That's an enormous subject. What did we do before google? In your reply to my post you say: "I am showing front and verso of each work in that order." I don't believe that is correct.
Is there something you're still looking for an answer to?
All the best,
Gillian
Hi Gillian,
Thanks for your comments. My background and links to my art collection web site and blog are in my biography.
I prefer using a jewelers loupe to magnifying glasses as a loupe provides a higher level of magnification and is easier to store and carry. I discarded all of my magnifying glasses, except for one I have had for many years when I started using a jewelers loupe, but I seldom use it. It is much more practical to carry a loupe on treasure hunts and I always have one with me. I'm not sure that my eyes were ever good enough to tell if a work is some kind of a print or an original watercolor, etc., but they certainly aren't now.
I am also a genealogist and art historian so have a lot of practice in deciphering writing and signatures, but not in what turned out to be Russian. I wasn't sure what language was on the works, if the cursive and printed versions of letters looked similar or very different, etc. Many thanks to OlofZ for his help with that.
Original prints aren't always numbered. For instance, artists proofs have no number, just the notation "A/P" and numbered series of prints are called limited editions, but the artist can also print an unlimited number of original prints, an open edition, if they chose to do so. Open editions can also indicate that the print is being mass produced for the artist by someone else.
Not sure if you have an issue with front or verso:
ver·so
?v?rs?/Submit
noun
1.
a left-hand page of an open book, or the back of a loose document.
2.
the reverse of something such as a coin or painting.
Or is it my wording? I show work A and verso of work A and the work B and verso of work B, was what I meant to convey.
I typically only add very limited edition original prints to my collection, but these two small works were only $.50 each and I wasn't sure what they were so they were a research opportunity. I enjoy doing research.
Feel free to check out my web sites.
Best,
Kevin