Ruth Bamberger Painting Black African Woman Culture Modernist Oil on Canvas Portrait Antique Art 1927 Paris Martinique Israel

On offer oil on canvas by Ruth Bamberger of a black woman, possibly from Martinique, painted in Paris and dated 1927. This portrait has real presence, full of life and humanity. It is rare to find a painting of the period that recognizes the personhood of a black sitter as an individual, but this does so emphatically. Beautifully articulated folds of fabric and Matisse-style background -- truly stunning throughout.

Ruth Bamberger was born in Switzerland in 1904. She was educated in Europe, notable in Germany and France, and continued study in Israel under Jacob Steinhardt, Isidor Aschheim and Mordechai Ardon. She died in Israel in 1976. She spent some time in New England, producing luminous Cape Cod scenes during the 1950s.

When she painted this work she was staying at the Hôtel Lutetia, the hospitality project of Le Bon Marché, as noted on the back of the canvas -- a very impressive address indeed.

Below is a listing of her education and gallery shows:

Education
Art Academy, Zurich.
1926-1930 Art Academy, Munich.
1934 with Steinhardt, Ascheim and Ardon.
1966-1967 Bezalel, Jerusalem.

Gallery shows:
1946-Yones Gallery, Jerusalem
1951-Children's Painting Exhibition
1953-Artists House, Jerusalem
1954-Nora Gallery, Jerusalem
1957-Artists House, Jerusalem
1959-Dizengoff Museum, Tel Aviv
1959-Lobel Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
1961-Beit Zvi, Ramat Gan
1961-Schweig Gallery, Stelloway, USA
1961-Artists House, Jerusalem
1962-Nora Gallery, Jerusalem
1962/3-Beit Hakana "Bezalel", Jerusalem
1963-Ross Gallery, Connecticut, USA
1966-Safrai Gallery, Jerusalem
1967-Artists House, Jerusalem
1968-Embassy of Switzerland, Tel Aviv
1972-Artists House, Jerusalem
1987-Memorial exhibition, Nora Gallery, Jerusalem

SIZE: 21.75" T x 18.25" W

CONDITION: Excellent. There are no condition issues to report. Untouched state -- you may choose to have it cleaned, but I would not.

If you have any questions or are interested in the piece, please do not hesitate to contact me. New items are often posted to Instagram first, @NickHausShop

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