The Dream of Abu-Said

c. 1970

Ilya Kabakov

Associated Names
Ilya Kabakov

Artist, Russian, born 1933

Artwork overview

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Associated Artworks

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This is a drawing of a stylized figure standing under a showerhead. The image depicts a simplistic human-like form with exaggerated features, rendered in black outlines with a minimalistic color palette. The figure stands with its arms crossed, while a simplistic representation of a showerhead is drawn above to the left. Above the drawing, text elements suggest context or titles, with Russian script providing additional narrative clues, including the words "Театр одного актера в картинках," "Душ," and "Комедия." The drawing's style evokes a sense of abstraction and conceptual interpretation, focusing more on form and symbolism than realistic detail.

Preface

Ilya Kabakov

1970

This painting features a stylized, simplistic human figure standing in a pose with crossed arms beneath a showerhead. The figure is painted in salmon-pink with bold black outlines. The showerhead is depicted in blue, contrasting with the figure's colors. The background is plain, emphasizing the interaction between the figure and the showerhead. The artwork uses minimalistic design elements. The style is reminiscent of A. R. Penck.

Scene 1

Ilya Kabakov

1970

This is a drawing of a figure standing beneath a shower head. The figure is depicted in a minimalist style with distinct black outlines and a simple, nude form colored in shades of peach or light brown. The shower head, placed above the figure, is connected to a pipe and is painted in a bluish-gray color. The background is plain, emphasizing the central figure and the shower. The overall style is simplified, focusing on the human form and its interaction with the object above.

Scene 2

Ilya Kabakov

1970

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist; Mrs. Vladimir Feltsman, New York; purchased by NGA with designated funds, 1993.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

hand-printed in Russian on title page: (Dream of Abu-Said / Comedy); type-written in Russian on introductory page: (At the end of the last, and the beginning of this century, in the big cities and the small towns, it was the style to, during [home] parties, stage "living pictures". Participants of the show, often dressed in specially designed costumes, would take necessary poses, and remain still for a short period of time, making so-called "silent scenes". Then the poses would change, the curtain would rise, and a new scene would appear. The viewers had to guess the meaning of the show. These offered "comedies" belong to that forgotten genre.)

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