Theo Tobiasse, Venise Se Reflète Dans Le Chant Des Psaumes EA avec Envoi

Theo Tobiasse (1927-2012)
Venise Se Reflète Dans Le Chant Des Psaumes EA avec Envoi
2nd half of the 20th century, pop., colour lithograph, 65 × 72, print 109/175
Sign. AD: signature

Teo (Eides) Tobias was born into a Litvak family in Jaffa. Soon afterwards, the family returned to Lithuania, but after a few years they all moved to Paris in search of a better life. Here Tobias graduated from the School of Decorative Arts. During the Second World War, the family went into hiding in Paris. Forced to sit quietly in his room for days on end, Tobias read, drew and played chess with his father. After the war, the artist immersed himself in his work. From 1984 he had a studio in New York, but he returned regularly to France and travelled the world with exhibitions.
Expressionist with elements of surrealism and primitivism, Tobias's works are like pieces of music, with intricate multi-layered compositions and echoing colour fantasies, where his favourite colours are orange, red, pink and blue. In Paris, Tobias was greatly influenced by the mysticism and poetry of the work of his friend Marc Chagall. Tobias identified personal stories and spiritual experiences with biblical and historical events and Jewish folklore, and his artistic language is full of metaphors, allusions and symbols: wheels hum with wanderings and exile, candles spread the light of hope, kites bring happiness, birds chirp peace, cats purr love, and old Jews pray in synagogues, study the Torah, and blow shofars. Some of the artist's canvases and lithographs have very strong elements of adventure and eroticism: figures of plump, large-breasted women float in the background of the city, princes and prophets leap on horses, rams and goats, acrobats perform acrobatics in the air, clowns play pranks, and harlequins recite poignant verses.
Based on:Litvak Art in Private Lithuanian Collections. Sud. Gradinskaitė, V. (2015). Vilnius: Lewben Art Foundation