Artwork
Anton Dolin
Anton Dolin is a watercolor work on paper by Mikhail Larionov. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1924 watercolour portrait by Mikhail Larionov captures Anton Dolin, a dancer with the Ballet Russes. Executed in a quick, sketchy style, the piece conveys Dolin's likeness with simple yet effective detail.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Anton Dolin, was a principal dancer with the Ballet Russes, joining in 1923. The portrait was created at the request of Natalia Goncharova, who observed Dolin dining with Sergei Diaghilev.
Technique & Style
Characterized by loose, expressive brushwork, the watercolour features a grayish-green background, softly blended edges, and minimal detail, reflecting Larionov's ability to balance rapid execution with recognizable portraiture.
History & Provenance
Originally gifted by Larionov to Richard Buckle CBE, the portrait's provenance highlights its personal and artistic connections within the early 20th-century dance and art world.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mikhail Fyodorovich Larionov was a Russian avant-garde painter who worked with radical exhibitors and pioneered the first approach to abstract Russian art.
