Exceptional painting (mixed techniques on canvas mounted on cardboard) "Pirogue" by Alexander Evgenevich Iacovleff (1887-1938); signed, situated and dated 1924. This painting was started in 1924 in the village of Bourem on the Niger river on the arrival of the "Croisière Noire" (Black Cruise), the mythical expedition organized and sponsored by French car manufacturer Citroën across Africa. Iacovleff was the official artist embedded in the expedition; he published on his return the famous "Croisière Noire" portfolio with 50 illustrations of the expedition. He took part as well to the "Croisière Jaune" from Egypt to Beijing. He is famous for his sanguine/black chalk portraits of the local people he met during these expeditions. His oils are rare and even more so with figures.
This painting is a precursor of his style as a travel painter with the famous horizon line, the plastic of the bodies and the bright colors in particular at sunset.