Onya La Tour by David Burliuk 1939 

"Onya La Tour" was created in 1939 by David Burliuk, using crayon and watercolor. Burliuk, of Ukrainian origin, was a key figure in the Russian avant-garde. After immigrating to the United States in 1922, he became known as the father of Russian Futurism. This portrait offers a glimpse into the artist's American period. The loose strokes of crayon and the translucent washes of watercolor capture the likeness of Onya La Tour. Burliuk often depicted those within his own social and artistic circles, and this portrait may represent a figure within his community. The expressive use of color creates a sense of vibrancy, while the slightly melancholic gaze of the subject evokes a feeling of introspection. Burliuk wrote of the need to "fuse art and life," and this portrait embodies that philosophy, capturing a moment in the life of an individual within the broader context of cultural exchange and artistic innovation.