Lot 69
Marie Čermínová - Toyen (1902 - 1980) DUBROVNIK

70,5 x 60,5 cm (h x w)

Starting price
1 100 000 CZK
   |   44 000 €
Early works by Toyen (Marie Čermínová) appear only rarely on the auction market. This work, which shows a sandy path lined with a stone wall and tall trees and offering a view of the quiet sea, is a typical example of Toyen's early work. Like in her painting "Landscape of Dalmatia" dated around 1922, here we can also see the simplified form that would shortly turn into Purist, Cubist forms in her work. Also typical is the limited, almost austere colour range, though it is enhanced through gradation. The work is also interesting given the year it was made, as 1923 was very important in Toyen's art career: that spring she was accepted as a member of the Devětsil art group, where she was listed among the members as Toyen M. - so it is likely that this was the year she started to use a pseudonym; at the Bazar - 2nd Devětsil Exhibition she presented her work from 1922-23, and one of her drawings was published in the first issue of Disk magazine. Obtained from Prof. Dobroslav Líbal collection. Oil on canvas, glued to cardboard, signed and dated on bottom left: Dubrovník 23 Čermínová.