About this lot

Description

Carte des vents, signed, dated and inscribed 'Wifredo Lam / 23-1-46 / Haiti' (lower right) ink on kraft paper 51 x 62cm

Footnote: Provenance Probably acquired by Gigi Richter from The London Gallery exhibition, The Cuban Painter Wilfredo Lam, Twenty Drawings , 5-30 November, 1946 Literature Yvon Taillendier, Wilfredo Lam, dessins, Denoel Paris, p.44 (illustrated b&w) Born in the small Cuban town Sagua Grande to a father of Chinese heritage and a mother of African, Spanish and Amerindian descent, Wifredo Lam is renowned for his dynamic Afro-Cuban and modernist works, which aimed to explore themes of spirituality and social injustice. Originally trained in the academic tradition of Western art, Lam’s aesthetic vocabulary later became increasingly singular as he took influence from surrealists, cubists and old Flemish masters, including Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Dated 23-1-46, Haiti was executed during Lam’s time living in Haiti, where he was accompanied by Pierre Mabille and André Breton. Whilst in Haiti, the trio are known to have attended eight voodoo ceremonies, which appears to have inspired the present work. An entry in Gigi's diary on November 5 th 1946 reads 'Opening of The London Gallery exhibition' therefore placing her at the opening evening of Lam’s solo show, The Cuban Painter Wifredo Lam, Twenty Drawings at the London Gallery, 5-30 November, 1946. The present work can be seen displayed on the wall of the Mall Studio in two photographs dating from the period 1946-47, when Gigi was renting the studio from Henry Moore (see pages 80-81). Characterised by energetic lines and hybrid figures, Haiti is typical of Lam’s distinctive aesthetic.

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