Dan Solojoff (1908-1994) - Personnages

Original drawing in black ink on paper by Russian artist Dan Solojoff

Title: Nudes

Artist: Dan Solojoff (1908–1994)

Medium: black ink on paper

Style: Surrealism

Signature: signed lower right

Dimensions: 48.3 x 35.6 cm

Condition: good

Dan Solojoff (1908–1994), born Daniil Andreevitch Solojef in Saint Petersburg, was a major Russian painter, poet, and illustrator of the 20th century. After fleeing the Russian Revolution and enduring the upheavals of the Second World War, he settled permanently in France (first in Lyon, then in Paris). A recognized artist whose work was exhibited during his lifetime, he died in Paris on October 21, 1994, and is buried in the famous Russian cemetery of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois. His artistic journey was shaped by pivotal encounters, notably with Marc Chagall in 1962, who praised his unique talent.

Dan Solojoff’s style lies at the crossroads of Surrealism, Neo-Primitivism, and poetic Expressionism. His graphic work is highly sensitive and often compared to Chagall’s magical world. It is characterized by:
- Elliptical, airy drawing, with exceptionally pure lines.
- A palette of vivid, luminous, contrasting colors (particularly in his gouaches and lithographs).
- A dreamlike, mystical, and profoundly poetic atmosphere.

Solojoff is a visual storyteller. His favorite subjects are imbued with lyricism and folkloric nostalgia: melancholic profiles and faces, vibrant bouquets of flowers, symbolic birds, musicians, and biblical or mythological scenes. He is also highly sought after for his illustrations of major literary works, particularly his sublime interpretations of Charles Baudelaire’s poems.

Free in-person collection is available at the Marché aux Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen.