Grant Johannesen

Grant Johannesen (July 30, 1921 – March 27, 2005), American concert pianist. Original, vintage, pen and ink, "on-the-spot" illustration by George 'Georges' Krishizki. The hand drawn illustration has been signed by Johannesen and additionally signed, dated and titled by Krishizki: "Georges / 1981 / Grant Johannesen playing Fantasie in C, Opus 17 by R. Schumann."

Johannesen toured extensively, both with the New York Philharmonic under Dmitri Mitropoulos, and as a solo performer. His performances in Moscow were especially well received. He was once encored 16 times. He was known as an interpreter of French piano music and recorded the complete piano works of Gabriel Fauré. He served as director of the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1974 to 1985. Johannesen was a frequent soloist with both the Cleveland Orchestra and the Utah Symphony.

George 'Georges' Krishizki (March 22, 1924 – December 20, 2001), Russian-Polish-American illustrator who came to the U.S. in 1949. While he earned acclaim for his renderings of the city’s architectural landmarks, it was his on-the-spot drawings of musicians in performance that attracted an especially appreciative audience. In a 1973 article published in conjunction with two simultaneous exhibitions, Georges explained the genesis of his long-running engagement with the concert hall: “I’ve always enjoyed going to concerts, and one day I decided it would be fun to combine my interests in music and art and make sketches of musicians during performances.”  Indeed, the most remarkable feature of Georges’ oeuvre, apart from the astounding range of performers who gladly expressed their approval and appreciation by signing, is the skill with which the drawings are accomplished.

This original pen and ink illustration, measuring approximately 9 x 12, on heavy-weight sketch paper, is in good condition with some light overall toning, wear to its edges and corners as well as a verticle fold crease to its center. Its verso is blank and clean.