Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891–1915), MALE NUDE

HENRI GAUDIER-BRZESKA (1891–1915), FRENCH
MALE NUDE CROUCHING, 1912

Pen and ink on cream paper laid down to a white paper sheet; the lower left corner of the sheet stamped: "H.S. Ede Coll.," titled to gallery label verso backing

Sheet 14.2 ins x 15 ins; 36 cms x 38 cms

Provenance:
The artist's studio;
By descent to his companion Sophie Brzeska;
Her Estate until 1925;
Sold to H.S. Ede, Kettle's Yard, Cambridge;
Mercury Gallery, London gallery label verso backing;
Private Collection, Ontario

Note:
When the artist's companion Sophie Brzeska, died in 1925, Gaudier's work became the property of the state. The Tate Gallery chose to retain three sculptures and fifteen drawings. The rest of the works were all sold to Jim Ede who spent a lifetime promoting Gaudier-Brzeska's art.

From 1909, Gaudier-Brzeska lived in poverty with Sophie who was twenty years his senior. Gaudier adopted her surname and lived on her savings until he found a job as a translator at the London docks. After 1913, he devoted himself to his art. In 1914, he was involved in the Rebel Art Centre with Wyndham Lewis where he became a founding member of the Vorticists and contributed to their magazine, "Blast." In September of 1914, he left England to fight for France where he was killed in June 1915. Leicester Galleries in London held a memorial exhibition of his work in June 1918.

Estimate: $2,000—3,000