Nahum Gutman

Acquired directly from the artist circa 1954-1955
Thence by descent

Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Nahum Gutman Recent Oil Paintings and Watercolours, 1955, no. 11

Overall in good condition. Original canvas. There is scattered craquelure mainly in the sky area and in the center of the work. There are 2 tiny holes by lower left edge. The surface could benefit from a cleaning. No retouching is apparent when viewed under ultra violet light.
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.

Gutman's love affair with the sea and coastline began when he was seven years old arriving by ship from Odessa on the welcoming shores of Jaffa. Throughout the years, the sea remained an indelible and beloved theme in the artist's oeuvre. Gutman explained "When we arrived at the shore of Jaffa the sea hit us with big waves and the foam of the waves nearly reached the deck. The ship came to a halt away from the port... Lightheartedly I threw myself into the outstretched arms of a sailor... I felt as though I was diving for the first time into a magical world, stranger than any I had ever encountered." (Nahum Gutman 1898-1980, exhibition catalogue, The Gutman Museum, Tel Aviv, 2003, p. 119)

From the 1950's to the 1970s the motif of the port became a central element in Gutman's work, evoking his first impressions when he arrived to Eretz Israel. The depictions of the Haifa and Tel Aviv ports from this period are imbued with the sense of joy and vitality he felt as a child. The paintings are beautifully composed, effortlessly combining realism and abstraction with his favorite colors blue and yellow ever-present. The following two works are exceptional examples of Gutman's port scenes.

Born in 1907, Avraham Wajselfish immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1930. An exporter by profession, he was the manager of A. Wajselfish Ltd. and a partner at "Yeshai". From 1932 he represented various metal factories and organized the first association of nail factories. He appeared in the 1957 publication of Who's Who in Israeli Economics. He was a great lover of art and close friends of many important Israeli artists such as Nahum Gutman and Mordechai Levanon whose works from the Wajselfish collection are offered in this sale as lots 28 and 29.

Nahum Gutman participated in the São Paulo Biennale of 1955 where he was awarded the Sicily Award for watercolor painting. Our research indicates that this work likely also participated in this important Biennale exhibition.