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GENNADY SPIRIN.
The Nutcracker.Watercolor, tempera, and pencil on paper with lettered celluloid overlay.
489x330 mm; 19
1
/
4
x13 inches, sight. Signed in ink, lower image. Title-page illustration to
“The Nutcracker” by E.T.A. Hoffmann, illustrated by Spirin, NewYork: Stewart,Tabori &
Chang, 1996. Some light buckling and rubbing to lettering of cel overlay, otherwise fine.
Archivally matted and framed.
[8,000/10,000]
A GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATION FROM ONE OF SPIRIN
’
S MOST FAMOUS ILLUSTRATED BOOKS
.
The work was chosen as the theme of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Christmas windows in 1997-98.The holiday
classic was a natural subject for Spirin, who possesses a gentle demeanor and fluffy snow-white beard
and whose birthday falls on Christmas Day.