Reuven Rubin

This work is not lined. The paint surface is in good condition with some craquelure in the white above the poppies. There are no signs of inpainting when viewed under uv.
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.

The present lot, painted with a spontaneous freshness, depicts an arrangement of lively poppies in a blue vase sitting imposingly near an open window. As early as 1921, Reuven Rubin introduced the flower motif into his paintings and returned to this beloved theme time and again. Reuven and his wife, Esther, would gather wild flowers on their trips in the countryside and she would place them around the home, inspiring him to paint them. "He delighted in painting mixed bouquets of poppies, yellow marguerites, and ears of corn; and anemones... With the years, his handling of flower pieces has grown freer, with more emphasis on the vibrance of color than on shape of individual flower, but he still keeps fairly close to nature.  He has made of these flowers, painted with evident love and enjoyment, a joyful hymn to nature."(Sarah Wilkinson, Reuven Rubin, New York, n.d., p. 60)