Pincas Litvinovsky 1894-1985

1894 - Born in Novo-Georgiyevsk, Russia. He studied at the Academy of Art in Odessa.

1919 - Immigrates to Palestine.

1930’s - Travels to Paris several times where he encountered the art of Matisse, Picasso and artists of the Jewish School of Paris. Litvinovsky had a striking physics, an athletic type, amateur boxer and long-distance runner. He was a painter of the erotic and sensual for whom the canvas became a "lovers’ palette". Under his brush the world became one of color and form. Women, men, children and animals were transferred into bright splashes of color and surprising, energetic forms.

Litvinovsky's images were drawn from his inner world with no attempt to depict a realistic environment or any defined space. His figures were formal and flat motives painted as concepts across a neutral, abstract background. Litvinovsky made a dramatic use of modernist styles, especially Cubism as reflected in the Russian painting of the 1920’s along with usage of bright colors, reminiscent of Matisse.

 

Man Holding the Torah, silkscreen, 1970's, $380

Hand-signed in Hebrew and numbered in pencil, edition 150

Man Holding the Torah Litvinovsky chose a favored religious Jewish theme. The image of the man is almost unrecognizable for its abstract nature. He is made of sharp and expressive lines. As always in Litvinovsky’s prints, the colors are rich and vibrant, and the gold, brown and marine blue compliment this scene.