ARSHILE GORKY (ARMENIAN-AMERICAN 1904-1948)

ARSHILE GORKY (ARMENIAN-AMERICAN 1904-1948)
Anatomic Studies,
pencil on paper
30.3 x 22.5 cm (11 7/8 x 8 7/8 in.)
signed lower right

PROVENANCE
Gift of poet Leonid Opalov to David Burliuk, New York, 1943
Thence by descent
Acquired from the Burliuk family by the present owner

LOT NOTES
Leonid Opalov, born David Opalov-Podosik, was an American poet of Russian-Jewish descent. Born in Riga in 1904, Opalov began publishing in Russia at the age of 14 and continued publishing works in Russian, Yiddish, and English throughout his life (primarily in Yiddish-language American, French, Mexican and Argentine magazines). He emigrated to the United States in 1923. The same year, he met David Burliuk - the man who would become Opalov's mentor and friend for the next forty years, as well as his collaborator: drawings by Burliuk illustrate Opalov's 1940 collection of poetry Morgnroyt un demerung (Sunrise and Twilight). Opalov remained a longtime admirer of Burliuk, gifting him the present pair of drawings by Arschile Gorky (lots 97 and 98) as an expression of his appreciation.