Alexander Archipenko (Ukranian-Russian-American, 1887 - 1964). "Kneeling [unrecorded signed lifetime impression]". Original drypoint. 1920. Signed in pencil, lower right. Not editioned in Archipenko's lifetime. Cream wove paper. Full margins (deckle edges all four sides). Fine impression; printed in brown ink. Very good condition. Literature/catalogue raisonne: Karshan 4. Provenance: The estate of John and Valere Butterwick, Kewanee, Illinois. Overall size: 15 x 10 11/16 in. (381 x 271 mm). Image size: 7 x 5 in. (178 x 127 mm). Exceedingly rare, perhaps unique, proof. Unknown to Karshan. As he states,"Kneeling is the second drypoint of only three that the artist executed ["Kneeling," "Bending," "Angelica"]. The original copper plates [of these three] were discovered by the artist's widow in 1966 at his atelier in Woodstock, New York. These plates were in sufficiently good condition to permit posthumous editions to be printed, since only one life-time proof was known of "Bending," two of "Angelica," and none of "Kneeling." These three editions were printed in New York by Miss Judith Foster in 1967, under the supervision of the artist's estate." Donald Karshan, "Archipenko: The Sculpture and Graphic Art." Tubingen: Ernst Wasmuth, 1974, pg. 75. Image copyright © Estate of Alexander Archipenko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. [25193-4-4000]