Sergei Chekhonin, design for the cover of The Abdication of Nicholas II, 1927

Signed with his Cyrillic initials at mid-right

Further inscribed in pencil in Cyrillic The Abdication / of Nicholas II / Recollections of Eyewitnesses / Publishing House / “Red Gazette” (Отречение / Николая II / Воспоминания очевидцев / Издательство / «Красная газета»)

Ink and pencil on paper

10 x 6 11/16 in. (25.5 x 17 cm) (visible)

Inv. no. ab_10535

Graphic designer, ceramicist, painter, and stage designer Sergei Chekhonin (1878-1936) was responsible for some of the most innovative designs of the early Soviet period. He devoted his prodigious skills to Soviet propaganda porcelain at the State Porcelain Factory as well as designs for books, journals, currency, commercial wrappers, and new systems of Russian Cyrillic lettering. This possible design for the cover of the book The Abdication of Nicholas IIwas not chosen, despite its graphic power and depiction of the late emperor in unflattering terms. When finally published, a less interesting composition by book designer and theater artist Nikolai Akimov (1901-1968) was selected in its place.