PAUL MAK (1891 - 1967): TWO CONVERSING MULLAHS RIDING DONKEYS
Possibly Brussels, Belgium, signed MAK and dated 1956

Opaque pigments, pencil, and ink heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting two bearded men in the middle ground, wearing long, loose tunics and white turbans, possibly Iranian mullahs, portrayed riding donkeys and absorbed in a humorous conversation, in the background a camel led by its rider, a group of men in conversation in the foreground and veiled women on the right hand-side, in the upper left corner a bazaar street scene, signed and dated in black on the lower left corner, mounted, framed and glazed, the illustration (visible) 27cm x 18cm, 62cm x 51.8cm including the frame.

Provenance: Christie's London, 14 October 1997, lot 154.

The present lot was painted by the Russian-born artist Pavel Petrovich Ivanov (1891 - 1967), also known as ‘Paul Mak’ or ‘Pavel Ivanov Mak’. Mostly renowned for his miniatures in Persian style, portraits, and caricatures, his life and artistic career were anything but standard.

From art student to distinguished soldier, his drawing talent was the sole saving grace that prevented him from being executed by the Bolsheviks, in whose hands he fell in 1917. Indeed, after six months spent in jail, he was finally released after sketching the main prison chief's portrait. In 1921, he decided to leave Russia and travel south, choosing Tehran as his new home the following year. Here, Mak had the chance to learn the art of Persian miniature painting and one of his acquaintances introduced him to important people, including Sir Percy Loraine, an influential British minister, and the new Shah of Persia, Reza Shah Pahlavi. His talent and success grew quickly and in February 1926, he organised his first exhibition in Tehran. In 1927, his appointment as official court painter and the grant of Iranian citizenship consolidated his presence and fame in the country.

In the middle of the political chaos leading Europe into World War II, Mak moved to Belgium, his final home, and from 1945 onwards, his works were only exhibited at La Galerie Rubens, located in Brussels, Gent, Bruges, Liege, Antwerp, and Le Zoute. In 1958, he participated in the Brussels World Fair, and his exhibition in the Iranian pavilion - his artistic swan song - made him earn the gold medal. To sum up his life candidly, "if Mak was not so divinely talented, there might be the danger of his life overshadowing his art. However, he distinguished himself in many forms of image-making, including portraits and caricatures, designs for the theatre, illustrations and Persian-style miniatures" (Chris Beetles Gallery's website, https://www.chrisbeetles.com/artists/paul-mak-pavel-ivanov-1891-1967.html, last accessed: 17/03/2023).