Attributed to Ivan Puni (Jean Pougny, 1892-1956) , Avant-Garde Composition with Figure

Ivan Puni (known in the West as Jean Pougny) was a prominent Russian-French avant-garde artist born in 1892 in Helsinki (then part of the Russian Empire) and passing away in Paris in 1956. He played a crucial role in early 20th-century modernism, moving fluidly between Cubo-Futurism, Suprematism, and later a more lyrical, figurative style. Together with Kazimir Malevich and Vladimir Tatlin, he participated in the legendary avant-garde exhibitions in pre-revolutionary Russia before eventually emigrating to Berlin and later settling in Paris.
This intriguing work reflects the fragmented geometry, overlapping planes, and dynamic abstraction characteristic of the early modern avant-garde. The composition incorporates geometric shapes alongside a silhouetted figure wearing a top hat, balancing abstract constructivist elements with figurative motifs. Mixed media / Watercolor and ink on paper, 27 x 23 cm