- 39
Nachum Gutman
Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 USD
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Description
- Nachum Gutman
- Café by the Kinnereth (Cafe in Tiberias)
- signed in Hebrew (lower left)
- oil on canvas laid down on paperboard
- 17 3/8 by 21 3/8 in.
- 44 by 54.3 cm.
Provenance
Hana Greenfield, Tel Aviv
Acquired from the above by the parents of the present owner
Acquired from the above by the parents of the present owner
Condition
The canvas has been cut and laid down onto a piece of paperboard; the edges are especially visible along the lower edge. The picture surface is generally good condition with a fine, stable web of craquelure across the entire surface. Under UV there are very minor, tiny scattered areas of inpainting throughout the work.
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
"From the 1920s on, Gutman painted Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee in numerous variations. The presence of the latter is highly conspicuous; at times it functions as the kingpin of the painting. A cheerful, colorful air infuses his 1950s and 1960s paintings of Tiberias with a sense of festivity." (Nahum Gutman 1898-1980, exhibition catalogue, The Gutman Museum, Tel Aviv, 2003, p. 84).
In this work the viewer is immediately immersed into the vibrant café scene on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The dancing movement of the black-suited waiters carrying never-ending dishes to the café sitters; the smell of the salt and fresh fish; the reflection of the sun and the clouds on the clear blue water and the sensual pull of the red dress of the woman standing on the balcony of the oriental-styled building with the bright blue window all contribute to this vivacious composition, unique to this important artist.
Gutman's fascination with life in the land of Israel is inherent throughout the artist's oeuvre. Whether he is depciting the country's protagonists, the landscape or the sea, his colors are bright, his scenes are vibrant and his brushstrokes are expressive. Although influenced by artists such as Renoir, Picasso, Rousseau and especially Raoul Dufy, Gutman had his own unique style which combined modernist trends, exotic orientalist elements, fine illustrative brushstrokes and a narrative and vibrant depiction of the building of a new life. Well known also as the founding father of illustration in Israel, Gutman illustrated many classics of Hebrew literature and was most notably recognized as the illustrator for the children's magazine Davar Li'Yeladim.
In this work the viewer is immediately immersed into the vibrant café scene on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The dancing movement of the black-suited waiters carrying never-ending dishes to the café sitters; the smell of the salt and fresh fish; the reflection of the sun and the clouds on the clear blue water and the sensual pull of the red dress of the woman standing on the balcony of the oriental-styled building with the bright blue window all contribute to this vivacious composition, unique to this important artist.
Gutman's fascination with life in the land of Israel is inherent throughout the artist's oeuvre. Whether he is depciting the country's protagonists, the landscape or the sea, his colors are bright, his scenes are vibrant and his brushstrokes are expressive. Although influenced by artists such as Renoir, Picasso, Rousseau and especially Raoul Dufy, Gutman had his own unique style which combined modernist trends, exotic orientalist elements, fine illustrative brushstrokes and a narrative and vibrant depiction of the building of a new life. Well known also as the founding father of illustration in Israel, Gutman illustrated many classics of Hebrew literature and was most notably recognized as the illustrator for the children's magazine Davar Li'Yeladim.