Maurizio Battifora Figurative Paintings

"A Young Girl Reading a Book" is a captivating portrait by Swedish artist Gustaf Arnolds. Arnolds was a prolific painter whose roots began in Vingåker and later in Ronneby from his teenage years. His educational journey in art took him through prestigious institutions such as Althins målarskola and the Tallbergska grafikskolan in Stockholm, followed by a significant period at the Konstakademien, Stockholm, between 1904 and 1909. His talent and dedication were recognized early on, earning him a scholarship to Paris, a city that would deeply influence his artistic direction. This particular work, likely painted shortly after his return to Sweden, reveals a profound influence from his time in Paris. It portrays a young girl absorbed in reading a book, a simple yet profound subject that Arnolds imbues with a sense of tranquility and introspection. The background hints at a serene landscape, dotted with quaint houses, a nod to the everyday beauty surrounding us. What sets this piece apart is Arnolds’ technique, reminiscent of pointillism but distinguished by longer, more expressive brush strokes that add a vibrant texture and depth to the canvas. This method showcases Arnolds' unique adaptation of the techniques he encountered during his Parisian studies, particularly during his interactions with Nils Dardel...

MANE-KATZ RABBIS, c. 1935 Oil on canvas 18 H. x 14 W. 1/2 in. (45.5 x 35.8 cm.) Signed PROVENANCE Dominion Gallery, Montreal Christies, New York, November 04, 1982. Lot 177: $11,000 Private Collection, New Jersey, 1982-2021 Estate of the above, 2021. Raised in an orthodox Jewish family in Russia, Mane-Katz was born in the Ukraine and became an early 20th-century artist, known especially for portraits and paintings with Jewish themes. From childhood, he had been influenced by stories of Jewish mysticism, which was reflected in his paintings. He had a peripatetic life between Russia, France, Israel, and America. He first studied art in Kiev at the Beaux Arts Academy, and in 1913, went to Paris where he associated with Chaim Soutine and Marc Chagall and continued his art studies there at the Beaux Arts Academy. During World War I, he tried to join the Foreign Legion but was rejected because he was too short. He went back in Russia again, this time joining the Soviet Revolution but rejected the cause because he was so horrified by Josef Stalin. He worked briefly for the Russian ballets, and in 1921, he returned to Paris where in 1927 he took French citizenship. For the next twelve years, he traveled widely, showing his art work and doing many paintings. In 1939, as World War II was breaking out, he was drafted by the French and then was taken prisoner by the Germans. He escaped and went to the United States and remained there until 1945, exhibiting his paintings at Katia Granoff Gallery and Wildenstein Gallery. After the war, he returned to Paris where he had exhibited in the Salons. In Paris to the end of his career, he worked happily, painting hundreds of portraits of rabbis...

"Fragment" by Rudolf Kosow is a compelling painting that intricately uses the medium of wood to enhance its textural and emotional depth. The artwork features a close-up of a human f...

Oil on canvas by Charles PICART LE DOUX (1881-1959), France, 1924. The Italian girl. Very beautiful work where post-impressionism embellished with a few cubist touches form a harmoni...

Irène Lagut (1893-1994) Water horses, 1940s Oil on canvas Artwork: 13 x 18 1/8 in. l 33 x 46 cm Framed: 15 1/3 x 20 1/2 in. l 39 x 52 cm Signed lower right Irène Lagut (1893–1994) w...

Unhurried from the series «Becoming» “Unhurried” is part of the series «Becoming», which explores the inner states of women, their journey toward themselves, and the moment when the ...

Self portrait by Jan Rikar Oil on canvas 39,3 x 31,7 cm (48,3 x 40,4 cm with frame) Signed lower right Inscription on the back : "A Madame et Monsieur le Docteur G - Jaubon (?) - a...

Initialed upper right 'A.B.' for Axel Bentzen (Danish, 1893-1952) painted circa 1925. Axel Bentzen studied art as a child and, by the age of 14, was copying Old Master paintings at ...

Mid-century fauvist portrait of a girl with colorful, textured impasto by Mary Sheppard (American, 20th Century), 1956. Signed and dated "Mary Sheppard '56" lower right. Unframed. Im...

This painting portrays a symbolic female figure. A crown of branches and a white veil suggest themes of ritual, nature, and inner strength. Through symbolic imagery and simplified fo...

An intimate interior scene of a man in a living room with an artist easel and a fire mantel. We are charmed by the rich choice of color and intimate details throughout this miniature...

This work brings together two rhythms — the pulse of the outside world and the stillness within. Good Vibes is a visual meditation on the power of memory: how a fleeting scent, a war...