Alexander Lashenko, Bedouin in the desert

color woodcut, paper, size 41 x 24.5 cm in light pp, signed l. d. "ALaszenko" and p. d. "woodcut 1936" in pencil

Alexander Lashenko (1883-1944) was an outstanding orientalist, painter, graphic artist and traveler. He studied painting and Oriental studies in St. Petersburg, Cairo and Luxor. He traveled extensively - in Japan he became acquainted with the technique of multicolor woodcut, and visited North Africa almost every year. He was particularly fascinated by Egypt, both its history and the daily life of its inhabitants. He was friends with British Egyptologist Howard Carter, the discoverer of Tutankhamun's tomb. In 1918 he returned to Poland.Laszenko painted primarily oriental landscapes, such as Young Arab with donkeys at a watering hole (circa 1903), Oasis of Biskoa (1931) and Ruins of an ancient city (n.d.). He also created portraits, especially of women of exotic beauty, such as Ben Brahim's Daughter (1938). In addition to painting, he was also involved in printmaking, mainly color woodcuts. In 1936, he published a graphic portfolio featuring Eastern themes and motifs.
His woodcuts were very popular, and he participated in many national and international exhibitions.