Provenance

Boris Smelov

Russian, 1951 - 1998

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The image shows a man visible from the waist up, leaning forward with his forearms resting on a roughly hewn wooden table. The man is positioned at an angle, with his head slightly tilted and his hands clasped together near his chin. He has a bald head and distinct facial features with a nose that appears prominent in the shadows. The man is wearing a dark suit jacket with light shading which adds texture to the garment. Two eggs are placed on the table in front of him. The background consists of worn and textured walls, and the surface appears to be stone or concrete, with soft shadows cast across the area.
Boris Smelov, Lyubitel Kislogo (Lover of Sour Things), Leningrad, 1973, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4501

Lyubitel Kislogo (Lover of Sour Things), Leningrad

Boris Smelov · 1973 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4501

This is a photograph of a graveyard scene with a building in the background. The image is captured in black and white. In the foreground, there is a gravestone with an inscription in Russian. The background features an old building with a sloped roof and visible brick chimneys. A tree with bare branches stretches across the scene, casting shadows onto the building's surface. Several crosses are visible, both standing and as shadows. The interplay of light and shadow, alongside the stark trees, creates a mood of contemplation and remembrance.
Boris Smelov, Smolensk Cemetery, Leningrad, 1987, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4502

Smolensk Cemetery, Leningrad

Boris Smelov · 1987 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4502