Three Russian Constructivist Avant-garde theatrical costume drawings. 

Play of M. Gorky - The lower depths (Na dne), signed in Polish, early 20th cen.

3 OLD WATERCOLOR and GOUACHE DRAWINGS OF THEATRICAL COSTUMES

THE CHARACTERS:

ALIOSKA (Alyoshka) — shoemaker, 20 years old

KLESCI (Kleeshtsh) — Andrei Mitrich, plumber, 40 years old

ANA (Anna) —wife of Kleeshtsh, 30 years old

NOT SIGNED

NAMES OF CHARACTERS WRITTEN UPPER LEFT IN POLISH

FRAMES OF THE TIME

SIZE: 24.5 x 12.5 cm. (9.6 x 4.9 inches)

SIZE WITH FRAME: 35.7 x 23.7cm. (14 x 9.3 inches)

CONDITION: DRAWING OF “ANNA” WITH TEAR UPPER RIGHT, ca.6.5 x 3 cm.

DRAWING OF “ALYOSHKA” WITH TEAR LOWER LEFT ca 1 x 1 cm.

BROWN FRAGILE PAPER,

DAMPING STAINS.

The Lower Depths (Na dne, literally: ‘At the bottom’) is perhaps Maxim Gorky‘s best-known play. It was written during the winter of 1901 and the spring of 1902. Subtitled “Scenes from Russian Life, ” it depicted a group of impoverished Russians living in a shelter near the Volga. Produced by the Moscow Arts Theatre on December 18, 1902, Konstantin Stanislavski directed and starred. It became his first major success, and a hallmark of Russian socialist realism.