Konstantin Korovin (French/Russian, 1861- 1939)
Paris la nuit, circa 1925

signed and inscribed 'Konstantin Korovin, Paris' (lower right)
oil on canvas laid down on board

Dimensions: 34.5 x 40.5 cm. (13 1/2 x 16 in.)

Konstantin Korovi was a celebrated Russian Impressionist painter known for his vibrant cityscapes and atmospheric depictions of urban life, particularly his evocative scenes of Paris. Fascinated by the energy and charm of the French capital, Korovin captured its essence in a series of luminous, nocturnal paintings. Works like Paris by Night Boulevard des Italiens (1908), Evening in Paris (1907), A Paris Café, and Café de la Paix (1905) reflect his love for the city's glowing streetlights, bustling cafés, and reflective wet pavements. These compositions stand out for their loose, expressive brushwork and radiant colour palettes, bringing a poetic and dreamlike quality to everyday urban scenes.

Beyond painting, Korovin was deeply involved in stage design, working closely with Russian opera houses and later with Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris. He collaborated with artists such as Valentin Serov, Mikhail Vrubel, and Savva Mamontov at the Abramtsevo art colony, where he combined his love of painting with theatrical set and costume design. His experience in the theatre added a dramatic, almost cinematic quality to his cityscapes, enhancing their mood and narrative. Korovin’s works are now housed in major collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, as well as institutions in Paris, such as the Musée d’Art Moderne. His legacy endures as a bridge between Russian realism and Western European Impressionism, capturing the spirit of early 20th-century Paris like few others.