Dali-esque Figures in Landscape
1940s Tempera Paint
#D0604
$1,250
Eugene Zaikine
This 1940s tempera paint on paper surreal scene is by Eugene Zaikine (1908-1949). Zaikine was a Russian-born American painter, sculptor, and muralist whose work bridged Surrealism and large-scale decorative commissions. Born in Russia, he fled during the Bolshevik Revolution and settled in New York, where he became an active and sought-after muralist by the 1930s and 40s. Though not an official WPA artist, his Depression Era works often reflect some of the same style and themes.
Based in Rego Park, Queens, Zaikine established a reputation as a leading muralist, completing commissions for restaurants, theaters, hotels, and churches across the country. Notable projects included work at the Half Moon Hotel in Brooklyn, the Mayflower Hotel in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and major ecclesiastical interiors such as the Russian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Brooklyn. A career highlight was his mural contribution to the 1939 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows.
Alongside his public commissions, Zaikine (who lived through both World Wars) produced deeply personal Surrealist paintings comparable to Salvador Dali (1904-1989) and Max Ernst (1891-1976), often confronting themes of war, imprisonment, and the psychological toll of modern life.
1940s
Tempera Paint on Paper
20.5"x14" framed, 14"x7" unframed
Signed lower right. Framed in a restored vintage wood frame with a beveled edge and painted white finish using archival matting behind plexiglass. Excellent vintage condition.
