Artwork Page for Balalaika Player

Details / Information for Balalaika Player

Balalaika Player

1925
This object has related works. See
sculptor

Alexander Blazys

(American, born Russian Empire [now Lithuania], 1894–1963)
Culture
America, Ohio, Cleveland
Medium
bronze
Measurements
Overall: 31.2 x 19.8 x 9.3 cm (12 5/16 x 7 13/16 x 3 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection 1926.1548
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

A Lithuanian immigrant, Blazys introduced modernist sculpture to Cleveland upon his arrival in 1925. These figures merge rhythmic movement inspired by music with faceted, geometric planes derived from Cubism.
Bronze statue of a musician playing the balalaika, a string instrument with a long neck and triangular body. The sculpture captures the musician mid-movement, leaning to our right with their right leg extended straight and foot flexed. This creates a line up through their left hand holding the neck of the balalaika. The balalaika's triangular body is held almost level with the musicians' ear, their right hand resting over where the strings would be.

Balalaika Player

1925

Alexander Blazys

(American, born Russian Empire [now Lithuania], 1894–1963)
America, Ohio, Cleveland

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.