This early expressionistic nude painting was executed by listed Bulgarian painter Zenko Grigorov Boyadzhiev (1902, in the Pleven village of Totleben - 1972 Sofia). His name in Bulgarian is Цено Бояджиев.. In 1923 he studied fine art at the Paris Academy "Julien" and in 1933 graduated painting at M. Tartal in Zagreb. Our work signed 1933 and created in the time of his Zagreb life.

Later he worked as an artist in Bulgarian cinema. He is the author of portraits, landscapes, still lifes and compositions. His works can be divided into several periods. His early works are expressive and a profound psychological characteristic such as "Portrait of Artist Kyosev" (1934), "Portrait of a Girl" (1935) and "Rest" (1937). After 1944 his works became multi-figured compositions of a contemporary and historical theme, in which there is a pronounced democratialism and love for the Labor people. To this period belong the pictures "Senokos" (1950), "A story of the Events of 1923" (1955), "The Rebellion" (1963), "Sami" (1963), "Apriltsi" (1966), "1918 Year" (1967), "at the Station" (1968) and "The Rebellion of Ivaylo" (1969). His mature works are in a lyrical mood with a rich colour on subtle modulations of killed tones. He painted landscapes from Elena, Sofia and Rodopi. His other works are: "Portrait of F. Chipet" (1958), "Portrait of Malina Popilova" (1961), "Female Portrait" (1961), "Portrait of Kiril Stanchev" (1962), "Autoportet" (1964), "The garden before the TDNA" (1965), "Still Life – Cacti" (1968), "Rhodope Landscape" (1970) and " Melnik "(1972).

The artist is a participant in general art exhibitions. His works are presented at exhibitions in Greece, the USSR and Turkey and are owned by the National Art Gallery. He has won awards from the Union of Bulgarian artists.

Literature: Encyclopedia of Creative Arts in Bulgaria, Volume 1, publishing House of BAS, Sofia, 1981; on-line Wikipedia in Bulgarian; Monography „Zenko Bojadzhiev“ by Vicho Ivanov, Sofia, 1968.

Inscription: signed Z.Bojadgiev and dated 1933, lower right.

Technique: oil on canvas, original frame.

Measurements: unframed w 7 7/8" x h 6 1/8" (65 x 92 cm), framed w 12 7/8" x h 11 3/8" (73,5 x 100,5 cm).

Condition: very good original condition.