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Vladimir Lebedev - relief - 1920 - wood, metal, and oil paint on board     Very much in the synthetic cubist vein especially Picasso's compositions of 1913-1915, this interesting geometric, abstract composition is a balance of black, white and medium tone wood grain mounted at various widths on a wooden panel (itself composed of 5 wooden planks). One of the white forms is a strip of wood moulding, the other white form a curved sheet of metal. The two pieces of stained wood are both strait rectangular forms while all three pieces of the black painted panel shapes are shaped into long elegant curves with the most forward one a semi circle whose lower end corresponds with a counterpuntal black curve at the back left side of the composition.
    That the centrally oriented composition of attached pieces only connect with the edges of the composition at the top and the bottom of the picture plane allows the space of the support panel to become lovely, curved negative shapes. Overall a work of economy in form and color and elegance of composition.