Chaim Gliksberg

Tel Aviv, Rubin Museum, Tel Aviv at Eighty, 1989
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Treasured in the Heart Haim Gliksberg's Portraits, 2005, p. 137, illustrated in color in the exhibition catalogue

This work is not relined. There is faint craquelure, mainly in the sky area, otherwise surface is in very good condition. When viewed under ultra violet light, scattered areas of retouching in the sky are apparent, as well as one spot by the gate on the bottom right. Overall this work is in very good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Haim Glicksberg was born in Pinsk in 1904. As a child, his family moved to Odessa where his father served as Chief Rabbi. Despite his religious upbringing, Gliksberg studied art in Odessa, with his family's blessing, from 1920-1924. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Palestine at the invitation of Boris Schatz, director of the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts. Like many young people of his generation, Gliksberg left Eastern Europe to venture on his own, yet he continued to remain close to his Jewish heritage and roots, choosing to blend his ancestry with life in the burgeoning nation. Gliksberg was a prominent figure in the early Israeli art world, partaking in numerous activities. Not only did he paint, but he curated exhibitions, wrote articles and reviews and acted as an art advisor to mayors in Tel Aviv. The artist received the Milo Prize in 1961 and was awarded the Dizengoff Prize three times.

Well known for his portraits of leading literary figures, flowers in vases, interiors and Tel Aviv street scenes, such as the one offered here, Gliksberg's early work is rooted in Russian academism but is at the same time imbued with French Modernism. While Gliksberg understood and appreciated various artistic styles, his allegiance remained with the tenets of figurative painting. In his travels he had encountered the work of Cézanne, Gaugin, Matisse and Picasso and was deeply impressed. The present lot demonstrates his affinity to the School of Paris and communicates the artist's perceptive responses to everyday reality. In this work one sees a picturesque scene of early Tel Aviv life. Hess Street is adjecent to Bialik Street, where the famous Israeli poet H.N. Bialik lived and where  the original city hall, probably shown here in the background, is situated. Preuss House, is a charming example of the early eclectic architectural style of Tel Aviv which incorporates western elements with oriental influences.