Kleinman, Zalman (1933-1995)

AUCTION 38 | Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters & Graphic Art

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Lot 325
KLEINMAN, ZALMAN.

Kleinman, Zalman (1933-1995)

Acrylic on canvas. Framed 17.5 x 23.5 inches. Signed lower right.

Est: $10,000 - $15,000
A most unique Russian-born Jewish artist, Zalman Kleinman (1933-1995) was a Brooklyn-based Chabad Chassid who expressed his Chassidic life-style through his art. He was certainly encouraged by his revered Rebbe to paint, who wrote: "Art adds another dimension of feeling to one's spiritual commitment." Although Kleinman experienced terrible tragedy in his life, he was able to move onward, drawing from these experiences for his paintings. Viewing his art allows one to see the world through his eyes - images of people are very realistic and emotional. Perhaps learning from the style of the American Realists, he avoids a richness of surface texture that might obscure his details. Indeed there is a suggestion of Edward Hopper's brooding realism in the present Kleinman work of Lot and his Daughters. Another version of this painting appears in the Chassidic Art Institute Catalogue, Zalman Kalman: Paintings (New York, 2001) p. 119. (Comments above, drawn from the catalogue). Works by Kleinman very infrequently appear at auction.