Antonin Ivanovich Soungouroff (1894-1982) - Harlequin

Portrait of a young man dressed as harlequin. This very decorative work was painted by the well-known Russian artist Antonin Soungouroff, who was living from 1926 outside of Russia.

Antonin Ivanovich Soungouroff was born in Russia in 1894. In 1926, he immigrated to China; lived in the village near Kharbin, and traveled throughout the whole country. In 1927-29 he worked as an illustrator of a Russian magazine “Youth” in Kharbin, at the same time producing oil paintings with scenes of the Chinese folk life. In autumn of 1933 his works were shown at the 1st art-ethnographic exhibition from collection of KVZhD in Kharbin. In the mid-1930s, the artist moved to France, where he soon became well known for his portraits of handsome young men, in particular the inhabitants of Paris and environs of Cannes (South France). In fact, Soungouroff was known predominantly as a gay artist, who unabashedly dealt with themes and images relating to gay life and culture. He became friends with many prominent writers and artists, including Jean Cocteau, Christian Berard, and Roger Peyrefitte. He died at the Cote d’Azur (South France) in 1982.


Provenance: French private collection

Condition: good

Creation Year: ca 1950

Measurements: UNFRAMED: 27.0cm x 22.0cm / 10.6in x 8.7in FRAMED: 36.2cm x 31.3cm / 14.3in x 12.3in

Object Type: Framed oil painting

Style: 20th century paintings

Technique: oil on masonite

Inscription: signed: Soungouroff

Creator: Antonin Ivanovich Soungouroff

Creator Dates: 1894 Russia-1982 Cote d'Azur

Nationality: Russian / French

#VenicecarnivalQ1