Letter from Pavel Barkhan to Jacques Lipchitz

Description

In this undated letter Barkhan tells Lipchitz that he is composing a questionnaire in order to study the opinion of a 'left artist' on classical ballet dancing. Some German critics say that the ballet is not modern and outdated so Barkhan wants to show that this isn't true, relying on the opinion of especially 'left artists'. That's why he asks Lipchitz to answer the questions. All the answers will be published in the 'Berliner Tageblatt'. Barkhan also asks Lipchitz to pass on the same request to Picasso, Derain, Matisse and anybody else, who can be considered appropriate for this task. He also asks to write his opinion, already told during his last stay in Berlin. This he is planning to publish in his book on [ballet dancer Tamara] Karsavina which will be published by 'Petropolis' publishing house. He adds that French painters are important here because 'they rushed to constructivism'. He also notes that Chagall and the artists from 'Mir isskustva' do not want to persuade their adversaries, which is needed. That's why he asks: 'take our Chagall under your protection. I can't say how helpless he is, how he always does everything 'upside down'. Give him your advices, as an old dweller of Paris, I know how good is your attitude to your comrades'. [Most probably, this letter was written soon after Chagall arrived in Paris, that is 1923].

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