It is hard to reconcile Gershon Iskowitz's (1921-1988) aesthetic with his personal history. As a Holocaust survivor, he experienced the darkest side of humanity yet built a life dedicated to creating art and beauty.
Born to a religious family in Poland, Iskowitz was allowed to leave Yeshiva (Jewish religious studies) in order to study art independently. The outbreak of war forced him to return to his hometown where he was conscripted to forced labor, then transferred to Buchenwald in 1944, one of the first and most notorious Nazi concentration camps. Upon liberation, Iskowitz spent nearly 9 months recuperating in the hospital. He then studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Munich before immigrating to Canada.
For most of the 1950s, he incorporated representation into his art. By the 60s he had established a modest reputation in Toronto and beyond, joining the Gallery Moos stable in 1964. The legend goes that in 1967 thanks to a Canadian Council grant, Iskowitz took a helicopter tour of the north. The experience of seeing the massive expanse of trees from above inspired a major redirection of his aesthetic and material and approach.
Referencing nature, Iskowitz's abstract composition depicts the dynamic exchange of color and light. Deconstructed trees and skies morph together in a delightful blue, dotted with purple, pink, yellow, and green shapes. Unclear whether the viewer is looking up at the sky through trees, or down through the clouds at the forrest, this painting is a perfect example of Iskowitz's ability to distill the natural world into cleverly abstracted compositions.
It is also worth mentioning Iskowitz's commitment to supporting future generations of Canadian artists. After his blockbuster retrospective at the AGO in 1982, Iskowitz established an eponymous foundation that would give out an annual grant to a contemporary artist. Click here to learn about the Gershon Iskowitz Prize.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
"Blue Mauve-C"
Canada, 1980
Oil on canvas
38"H 33"W (work)
39.25"H 34.25"W (framed)
Very good condition
Note: price is in CAD
- Where does the inventory ship from?
Our inventory is divided between New York and Toronto.
- Where do you ship to?
We can ship anywhere. Typically when we ship within North America we prefer to use FedEx or DHL. To Europe, Asia and beyond we generally use DHL.
- How much does it cost to ship?
For shipments within North America, we typically charge a flat rate fee. Many items on our site will list the rate. For shipping outside of North America, we can easily provide a quote and will look for the most efficient and economical option.
Most of the items on our site can be easily shipped internationally.
Occasionally we will recommend that an artwork be removed from its frame for shipping. Larger framed works are typically framed with plexiglass. We export over 80% of what we sell, so we are comfortable shipping anywhere.
- Are there additional taxes or fees?
When a work is valued above $2,500 usd there is a possibility of tax of 0.35%, but this is applied sporadically. There can similarly be an additional fee for customs brokerage and this can range from $20 - $65. US Taxes, duties and customs brokerage are not included in our flat rate shipping. However most of our shipments to the US enter without any additional fees.
- Do you provide a certificate of authenticity?
Yes, we guarantee everything we sell. We can provide both a digital and printed version of our certificate of authenticity.
What is your return policy?
- Caviar20 wants you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. We have a 7 day no-questions full refund return policy for your purchase. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. After 8 days returns are given a credit note. There is no expiration for our credit notes.
- What payment methods do you accept?
Canadian clients are welcomed and encouraged to pay with interac.