Etching, 1957

Edition : 21/100

Publisher : Le Musée de Poche, Paris

Printer : Jean Signovert, Paris

Catalog : [Schneider I]

32.00 cm. x 23.00 cm. | 12.6 in. x 9.06 in. (paper)

19.50 cm. x 11.50 cm. | 7.68 in. x 4.53 in. (image)

BFK Rives paper
Based the oil on wood “Icon” of 1949

Although Serge Poliakoff does not belong to the tradition of religious painting, the artist was influenced by his Orthodox Christian origins and the spirituality that emanates from them. His abstract work, marked by the use of geometric shapes and luminous colors, reflects a quest for inner elevation and transcendence. He shows a subtle link with the Orthodox tradition, in which light and color play a spiritual role. Poliakoff sought to express, through abstraction, a spiritual and mystical dimension.

This artwork is based on the 1949 painting “Icon”. It evokes the Orthodox Christian tradition, where icons play a mediating role between the divine and the faithful. Here, Poliakoff seems to draw inspiration from this tradition to offer a modern, abstract reinterpretation.

The central, imposing black form could symbolize a sacred figure or an element of transcendence, anchoring the work in a reflection on faith and the afterlife. The brown, gold and ochre hues, meanwhile, recall the traditional gilding of religious icons, reinforcing the idea of divine light and sacredness.

Serge Poliakoff invites the viewer into an almost meditative contemplation. He explores the boundary between the visible and the invisible, between matter and spirit, suggesting that abstraction can also be a pathway to spirituality. The artist has thus succeeded in creating a deeply introspective work, where the absence of figurative detail gives way to an inner elevation, reminding us that religion, like art, is above all a quest for meaning and light.

Certificate of authenticity
Excellent condition
Handsigned by the artist in pencil

Ref : LCD4553