Tchelitchew, Pavel, 1898-1957
Dates
- Existence: 1898-09-21 - 1957-07-31
Biography
Russian-born painter, set designer, and costume designer, Pavel Tchelitchew emigrated in 1920. He lived in Berlin (1921-23) and Paris (1923-34) before moving to New York, where he lived with his partner Charles Henri Ford. He became a United States citizen in 1952 and died in Grottaferrata, Italy in 1957.
Tchelitchew's early painting was abstract in style, described as Constructivist and Futurist and influenced by his study with Aleksandra Ekster in Kiev. After emigrating to Paris he became associated with the Neoromanticism movement. He continuously experimented with new styles, eventually incorporating multiple perspectives and elements of surrealism and fantasy into his painting. As a set and costume designer, he collaborated with Serge Diaghliev and George Balanchine, among others.
In Paris Tchelitchew became acquainted with Gertrude Stein and, through her, the Sitwell and Gorer families. He and Edith Sitwell had a long-standing close friendship and they corresponded frequently.
Among Tchelitchew's well-known paintings are portraits of Natalia Glasko, Edith Sitwell and Gertrude Stein and the works Phenomena (1936-1938) and Cache Cache (1940-1942). He designed sets for Ode (Paris, 1928), L'Errante (Paris, 1933), Nobilissima Visione (London, 1938) and Ondine (Paris, 1939), among other productions.
Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:
Katharine Kuh papers
The papers contain correspondence and art on greeting cards by artists whose works she exhibited.
George Platt Lynes scrapbooks
Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas papers
Florine and Ettie Stettheimer papers
The papers contain correspondence, diaries, writings, materials related to the production of Four Saints in Three Acts and the paintings of Florine Stettheimer, and miscellaneous papers.
Bernardine Szold-Fritz correspondence
The collection contains correspondence to Bernardine Szold-Fritz from well-known cultural figures from the 20th century.
Allen Tanner papers
Pavel Tchelitchew collection
The collection includes correspondence, writings, photographs and printed material that document the life and work of Russian-born painter and set designer Pavel Tchelitchew. Correspondence includes letters between Tchelitchew and Edith Sitwell. Writings include the memoir of Tchelitchew's sister Alexandra Zaousailloff.