Orientala by Reuven Rubin

Reuven Rubin
Israeli | 1893-1974

Orientala

Signed “Reuven Rubin"
Oil on canvas

A striking and unique work rendered in a breathtaking jewel-toned palette, Orientala by Rueven Rubin showcases the dynamic artistry and singular point-of-view of the Israeli artist. While olive trees, sheep and fishermen were typical subjects for the artist, this rare work features the countenance of a woman. Considered a pioneering figurative Israeli artist of the mid-20th century, Rubin was a founder of the Eretz-Yisrael style alongside artists Nachum Gutman and Ziona Tajar. Rubin is celebrated for his portraits and sun-bleached modernist landscapes painted over the artist’s six-decade career spent living between Tel Aviv, New York, and Los Angeles.

Enigmatic and colorful, Orientala features a scantily clad woman wearing a turban-like headdress and holding a potted plant. Rubin renders the woman’s strong features in a plethora of non-naturalistic colors and with bold, angular brushstrokes. Reminiscent of works by Picasso, Jawlensky and even Chagall, Rubin employs a vivid and original palette along with striking modern techniques to create a composition that firmly establishes his own distinctive style.

Rubin Zelicovici, later Reuven Rubin, was born in Galaţi to a Romanian Jewish Hasidic family. In 1912, he left to study art at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Finding himself at odds with the artistic views of the Academy's teachers, he left for Paris, France and began to cultivate his artistic vision. Influenced by artists like Cezanne, Rubin’s early depictions of his country’s landscapes rebelled against Bezalel and helped to establish Rubin as an internationally recognized artist. In 1924, he was the first artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Tower of David, in Jerusalem and that year he was elected chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors of Palestine. From the 1930s onwards, Rubin also designed backdrops for the Habima Theater and the Ohel Theater. Rubin’s work frequently explored themes of the biblical landscape, folklore and people in his works. Today, Rubin’s works are included in the collections of several major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

20th century

Canvas: 32” high x 26” wide
Frame: 44” high x 37 3/8”wide

Provenance:
The artist
Sam Salz, New York
Estate of Harold Weill, New York
Private Collection, New York
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
Rubin: Retrospective Exhibition, The Tel Aviv Museum, Israel, July 1966, no. 49

Exhibitions:
Rubin: Retrospective Exhibition, The Tel Aviv Museum, July 1966, no. 49
Summer Times, The Tel Aviv Museum, Israel, July 26, 2021 - September 23, 2021