1960s Ben Benn, Dove of Peace Limoges plate

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Born in Bialystok, Poland. His full name is Benzion Rabinowicz. His grandfather was a Rabbi and his father was an … Read more Born in Bialystok, Poland. His full name is Benzion Rabinowicz. His grandfather was a Rabbi and his father was an architect. Benn was a Jewish-Polish painter and graphic artist. After studying at the Academy of Arts in Warsaw he made his debut in 1927 with his first solo exhibition. During this time he designed the typography for various collections of Yiddish poetry. After being very active in the 1920's and 30's in the Polish theater scene as well as being the founder of the modernist group "3F", he went to Paris to study with Fernand Leger. After the German occupation of France in 1940 he went into hiding. After being denounced he was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to a concentration camp but miraculously survived the war. He returned to Paris and in the post-war years he developed his own style of metaphysical painting techniques and surrealism. Later in his life Benn also was active in book design and contributed illustrations for various books of the Bible and for The Song of Songs. During the period after the war, Benn dealt with biblical themes, mostly in small formats. This interest in biblical themes was very common among Jewish artists that survived the war and the holocaust. The holocaust caused many Jewish people question the existence of god, some became atheists, and some became stronger believers. One of his most notable works in this theme is the 126 illustrations of psalms that were presented in the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Museum of Lyon and many other places. Expositions marquantes ——————— Galerie Katia Granoff Galerie d’art Matignon – Galerie de Marignan Galerie Charpentier (actuellement Sotheby’s) Galerie Gaveau – Ville de Montréal Musée d’art moderne de Lyon Musée d’art moderne à Paris Musée du Petit Palais à Genève Orangerie du Luxembourg à Paris Musée Carnavalet – Paris Villes de Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka Hommage au Grand Palais – Paris U.N.E.S.C.O. – Paris See less