Ben-Ami auction house

On Saturday evening, January 1, 1994, at the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, Auction No. 50 of the "Ben-Ami" auction house will take place. This is an auction of Israeli and international paintings, with notable contributions from Israeli artists such as Zvi Meirovitz, Tziona Tagger, David Hendler, Ivan Schwebel, and Yehiel Kriza. A special section of this auction is dedicated to the works of Pinchas Litvinovsky. Among the international artists featured are Henri Epstein, Josef Israels, and Jules Pascin.

This is a highly eclectic auction. It lacks a precise artistic focus and spans a wide range of techniques and price levels, almost to the point of extremity. It includes, side by side, oil paintings, prints, gouaches, woodcuts, and pencil drawings. The offering stretches from the forgotten Raphael Mohar to Tumarkin, from the completely overlooked Baruch Agadati to Tziona Tagger, whose subtlety surpasses even what she displayed during her lifetime.

Since Tagger's works have a significant presence in this auction, it is appropriate to address them in some detail. These are works dating from the 1920s to the late 1950s, representing charming and characteristic examples of Tagger's art. The pre-sale price estimates listed in the auction catalog are not unusual in either direction.

The Litvinovsky section is particularly interesting. Some of the 22 works offered for sale were exhibited at the Israel Museum in the retrospective exhibition dedicated to the artist in 1990. These include erotic pieces, general Mediterranean themes, distinctly Oriental works, depictions of figures, street scenes, a tribute to Picasso, and a couple in nature. Oils on canvas, paper, or cardboard—full of humor, quite daring, and vividly colorful. Litvinovsky at his best. The pre-sale price estimates, including the highest, set at $10,000, seem realistic.

However, overall, the diversity of artists and styles results in a "scattered" auction: from Kadishman and Zaritsky to works from the "Viennese School" and the "French School," meaning works that are not specifically identified. While there is an undeniable charm in such a "scattered" auction, this fact makes it challenging to conduct a systematic analysis of the sale.