Portrait of Young Boy. Oil on panel

Arguably, Jewish Arts’ most important genre artist. Isidor Kaufmann traveled throughout Eastern Europe, where “Jewish life and Jewish feelings vibrate more strongly,” in search of 19th century Jewish iconographic inspiration. The artist himself was no product of shtetl life and yet felt a deep admiration for the beauty he found in the pious subjects he primarily portrayed in his works. His works are characterized by “an exhaustive attention to detail and an acute sense of the psychological authenticity of his models...His brushwork is so precise that it is visible often only under magnification” (J. Weinstein, A Collectors’ Guide to Judaica (1985) p.178). Additionally, Kaufmann’s paintings resonate significant historical value as documentation of bygone Jewish life. He is a keen observer, capturing subtle human emotions and nuances so evident in his portraits. He was drawn to the human, emotional part of shtetl life while capturing both the intensity of feeling and devotion in his art. In Kaufmann’s own words: “Since it was my conviction that the strength of every artist is rooted in his own people- I became the painter of Judaism. I have always pursued the vision of glorifying and exalting Judaism. I strove to reveal its beauty and its nobility and tried to make the traditions and institutions that speak of such great religious devotion and reverence, accessible for Gentiles as well.” (Mult ‘es Jovo, Vol. 7, (1917) p. 295). Isidor Kaufmann is the Rembrandt of the soul of the Eastern European Jew. See Katalog Jüdischen Museum der Stadt Wein, G.T. Natter (ed.) Isidor Kaufmann (1995). The present work, bust portrait facing left, employs a young boy not often seen in Kaufmann’s paintings. The artist tended to use a number of recurring models in a variety of scenes. His models tended to be very young boys, young bearded men or older men. This model is somewhat different in that he represents an adolescent, a clean-faced young man, nevertheless clearly not as young as the usual models he employed. The features here remain delicate and simple, with a somewhat wiser eye dawning... Dr. Hubert Adolph of Vienna, has confirmed the authenticity of this work Provenance: Christie’s New York, Nineteenth Century European Art, 1st November, 2001, Lot 98 A less polished version of this painting was sold at Christie’s New York, Nineteenth Century European Paintings, Drawings and Watercolors, 15th February, 1994, Lot 93. It was reoffered by Sotheby’s Tel Aviv, Fine Judaica, 29th September, 1994, Lot 182