Bronze. Height 32 cm. Signed 'O Miestchaninoff' (engraved) to reverse of neck at left and to right on a rectangular cartouche with foundry mark "CIRE VALSUANI PERDUE". Mounted on black marble base (16 x 16 x 16 cm). Exemplar 4/10. - With fine, blackish-grey patina, with slight golden discolouration in places. - A minor, inconspicuous notch to tip of the nose.
Oskar Meshchaninov (also written Miestchaninoff) belonged to the circle of Marc Chagall; both artists came from the Belarusian city of Vitebsk. In 1907 Meshchaninov emigrated to Paris where he joined the class of the sculptor Joseph Bernard and devoted himself mainly to the study of ancient sculpture. His works were exhibited from 1910 to 1920 in numerous Parisian salons. At the same time the artist was also playing a significant role in the life of the Russian artists' colony in Paris. Due to the decorative French elements in the work and also the strictly classical style it is likely that the portrait of the young woman was created between 1910 and 1920. Between 1919 and 1927 the artist embarked on several trips to Burma (Myanmar), Siam, Cambodia and India. He was fascinated by the austere sculptures of the Khmer. During World War II Oskar Meshchaninov emigrated to the USA where he died in 1956.
Rau Collection for UNICEF