4156 - Gabo, Naum

Gabo, Naum Photographers: Oliver Baker (active 1930s–1960s) and John Brook (1924–2016). *Linear Construction in Space No. 1* and *Linear Construction in Space No. 2* by Naum Gabo (1890–1977). 1943, 1949. 2 vintage ferrotyped gelatin silver prints. Each approximately 25.5 x 20.5 cm. Each with the photographer’s stamp on the reverse. Naum Gabo was a pioneering figure of Russian Constructivism whose innovative approach to sculpture profoundly influenced the development of modern abstract art. Rejecting traditional notions of sculptural mass and volume, he explored the interplay of space, light, and geometric form, frequently employing modern materials such as Perspex and nylon filament. His celebrated “Linear Construction” series, begun in the early 1940s, exemplifies these principles, using finely stretched threads to create intricate spatial structures in which empty space becomes an integral element of the composition. The two photographs here document works from this important series, illustrating Gabo’s radical redefinition of sculptural form. – A few handling creases, bumped corners, and some surface marks on the ferrotype surface, more visible when viewed at an angle; otherwise in good condition.