"Bear & Bull"
Print
2000 (made)
2000 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Natalia Lamanova is a Moscow-based artist who works both in graphic and digital media. Stamps are central to her work. She is a leading exponent of mail art (where the postal system is part of the media) and she has produced numerous decorative compositions in a philatelic format, including this work, entitled "Bull & Bear". The sheet follows a traditional format It comprises a small sheet of stamps, repeating images, and includes the perforations that are required to separate the stamps from each other and the selvedge that marks the edge of the sheet. However these images seem to satirise the kind of self-congratulation which nations perpetuate in their postage stamps. Across the world, postage stamps frequently bear images of national figureheads, characteristic and beautiful flora and fauna, or important historic events. Here the celebration has turned into a kind of burlesque with the jousting figures appearing ridiculous in their semi-nude, theatrical dress and poses.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | "Bear & Bull" |
Materials and techniques | digital print on perforated paper |
Brief description | 'Bear & Bull', Natalia Lamanova. Artist's stamp, Russian. 2000. |
Physical description | a sheet of 12 stamps (4 each in 3 strips).There are two images which alternate with each other. Each is a jousting male figure. One is armed with a sword and shield (which resembles a manhole cover - see E.217-2006), and dressed in nothing but loincloth and horned helmet; the other is armed with a sword and dressed in nothing but a bearskin draped over his back and across his loins. Because of the way the stamps are arranged the figures joust with each other in two pairs on the upper and bottom strips and in a central pair in the middle strip, on either side of the latter the solitary figures joust beyond the picture frame. The sheet is printed in black and white save for a small touch of green on the 'bull's' loincloth, and smaller touches of red on the bearskin. Each is lettered in Russian with a postal value (5 kopeks) etc. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Limited edition |
Copy number | 18/30 |
Marks and inscriptions | "Bear & Bull" 18/30 Lamanova/ lamana wooma post (inscribed with title, edition number and signed in pencil below the lowest perforation line and lettered lamana wooma post below the artist's signature.) |
Credit line | Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Natalia Lamanova is a Moscow-based artist who works both in graphic and digital media. Stamps are central to her work. She is a leading exponent of mail art (where the postal system is part of the media) and she has produced numerous decorative compositions in a philatelic format, including this work, entitled "Bull & Bear". The sheet follows a traditional format It comprises a small sheet of stamps, repeating images, and includes the perforations that are required to separate the stamps from each other and the selvedge that marks the edge of the sheet. However these images seem to satirise the kind of self-congratulation which nations perpetuate in their postage stamps. Across the world, postage stamps frequently bear images of national figureheads, characteristic and beautiful flora and fauna, or important historic events. Here the celebration has turned into a kind of burlesque with the jousting figures appearing ridiculous in their semi-nude, theatrical dress and poses. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.212-2006 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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