Autumn (Osin')
Print on paper; linocut or woodcut • Anastazia Prozenko (Anastasia Protsenko)
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Modern / Soviet Non-Conformist era influence; characterized by stylized folk motifs and graphic abstraction.
Medium & Technique
Multi-block color linocut or woodcut print. The technique uses overlapping ink layers to create tonal variations in ochre, siennas, and browns, with a visible grain texture characteristic of relief printing.
Creation Period
1966
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 45 x 30 cm; portrait format on a rectangular paper sheet.
Subject Description
A vertical composition of stylized female faces stacked and overlapping, symbolizing the season of Autumn through an earthy palette. The figures have simplified, almond-shaped eyes and long hair that blends into the background landscape forms, creating a rhythmic, totem-like structure.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Poor to Fair; the paper support shows significant structural damage and environmental degradation.
Estimated Market Value
USD $150 - $300
Auction Estimate
USD $100 - $250
Provenance History
Unknown private collection; likely acquired within the Ukrainian or Soviet art market in the mid-to-late 20th century.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the mid-1960s trend of 'ethnic modernism' within the Ukrainian SSR, where artists integrated traditional folk aesthetic with modern graphic techniques. It is a representative example of female-led printmaking from the period.
Notable Features
Hand-signed and dated '1966' in pencil in the lower margin. Includes titles in Cyrillic/Ukrainian and English, suggesting it may have been intended for international exhibition or the export market.
Condition Issues
Major physical damage including a large horizontal tear through the right edge, a smaller vertical tear at the top center, heavy creasing throughout, foxing (brown spots), and significant water staining on the left margin.
Conservation Recommendations
Requires professional paper conservation to stabilize tears with Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste. Light aqueous cleaning to reduce staining and deacidification is recommended. Should be stored in acid-free materials away from UV light.
Collector Notes
Anastazia Prozenko