# Vladimir Vasil'evic Lebedev artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/vladimir-vasil-evic-lebedev/
Profile generated: 2026-05-11T19:06:14.436Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1891-05-26
- Death date: 1967-11-21
- Nationality: Russian
- Movements: Russian Avant-Garde, Cubism, Constructivism, Suprematism, Futurism, Productionism
- Common media: Oil painting, Gouache, Watercolor, Pastel, Collage, Assemblage, Graphic art / printmaking, Drawing, Book illustration

## About Vladimir Vasil'evic Lebedev

Vladimir Vasil'evich Lebedev (1891–1967) was a Russian painter, graphic artist, illustrator, and poster designer who became a central figure of the Russian avant-garde. Born and based in Saint Petersburg, he absorbed an exceptionally wide range of modernist ideas—including cubism, constructivism, suprematism, futurism, and productionism—while also drawing on Russian folk art and the lubok tradition. His experimental approach to form and color made him one of the most versatile Soviet-era artists. Beyond painting and collage, Lebedev is especially recognized for revolutionizing children's book illustration, creating a new visual language rooted in cubist geometry that influenced generations of illustrators. He also produced politically charged posters and cartoons during the early Soviet period. His work is held by major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

## Common works and media

Collectors and appraisers are most likely to encounter Lebedev's work in the form of oil paintings, gouaches, watercolors, pastels, collages, and assemblages from his avant-garde period. He also produced a substantial body of graphic art, including lithographs and other prints, as well as original illustrations for children's books. Political posters and satirical drawings from the ROSTA window series represent another recognizable category. His subjects range from abstracted figures and still lifes to narrative scenes drawn from folk tales and children's literature.

## Market and appraisal context

Lebedev's work appears regularly in international auctions specializing in Russian art. His early avant-garde paintings, constructivist collages, and graphic works from the 1910s–1920s tend to be the most valued category. Original children's book illustrations form a distinct and collectible segment. Political posters may present attribution challenges, as many were produced collectively under Soviet workshop conditions. Collectors should verify provenance, confirm attribution for unsigned works, and review condition carefully given the age and storage history typical of Soviet-era works on paper.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine verified artist identity research from institutional authority files and museum records with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lot data when those records are available. For Vladimir Lebedev, identity data is sourced from the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, Getty ULAN, VIAF, Wikidata, the Library of Congress authority file, and the Museum of Modern Art collection records.

## Sources

- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/48651
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4255719
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lebedev_(artist)
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500004046
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/107041801/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87917115
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/12945