Artwork
vecchio trombola
vecchio trombola is an unspecified painting by the Art Brut artist Boris Grigoriev. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1924 by Russian artist Boris Grigoriev, Vecchio Trombola is an oil painting now part of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection. The work belongs to the broader context of art brut, reflecting Grigoriev’s engagement with both visual and literary practices.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on an elderly man with a white beard, seated in a red chair. He wears a black beret and a dark‑blue shirt, and holds a white bowl decorated with vivid patterns. His gaze is directed downward, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
Grigoriev employs a restrained palette, contrasting the bright red chair and yellow wall with the subdued tones of the figure’s clothing. The brushwork emphasizes the texture of the beard and the decorative surface of the bowl, creating a balance between realism and the raw expressiveness typical of art brut.
History & Provenance
After its completion in the early Soviet period, the painting entered the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in early 20th‑century Russian art and outsider‑art movements.
Context
Grigoriev’s career spanned painting, graphic illustration, and writing, and Vecchio Trombola illustrates his interdisciplinary approach. The work’s focus on an ordinary, aging figure aligns with the artist’s broader interest in everyday people and the social atmosphere of post‑revolutionary Russia.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Boris Grigoriev (Russian: Бори́с Дми́триевич Григо́рьев; 11 July 1886 – 7 February 1939) was a painter, graphic artist, and writer.
