Avigdor Arikha

Born:: April 28, 1929, Radauti, Romania
Died:: April 29, 2010, Paris, France
Nationality:: Israeli (previously Romanian, British, French)
Profession(s):: Artist, Painter, Printmaker, Art Historian, Writer

Early Life and Education

Survived Nazi labor camp in Romania during World War II after drawing landscapes for the camp commander.
Emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1944 as a refugee.
Studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, from 1946 to 1949.
Awarded a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1949.

Career and Major Achievements

Initially worked as an abstract artist in the 1950s and 1960s.
Completely abandoned abstract art in 1965 and began focusing on representational art, specifically painting and drawing directly from life.
Developed a distinctive style of painting emphasizing immediacy and observation, often depicting everyday objects and portraits.
Became a leading figure in the revival of representational art in the late 20th century.
Illustrated Samuel Beckett's Imagination Dead Imagine (1965) and other works.
Authored numerous books and essays on art history and theory.

Notable Works

Still lifes, portraits, and landscapes painted directly from life.
Numerous drawings and prints.
Book illustrations, notably for Samuel Beckett.

Publications

Fifty Poems by Robert Graves (illustrated by Arikha).
Essays on Nicolas Poussin, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and other masters.
Writings on art theory and practice.

Legacy and Impact

Avigdor Arikha is remembered for his commitment to representational painting from life and his influential writings on art history and theory. He profoundly impacted contemporary art by advocating for a return to direct observation and skill-based techniques. The name 'avigdor arikha signature homestyles' is not traditionally linked to him, as he was mainly known for his fine art career. However, if such homestyles were influenced by his aesthetic principles of simplicity, directness, and appreciation for everyday objects, they reflect a small portion of his design ethos. While Avigdor Arikha did not design interior spaces, his artistic principles resonate with minimalistic design choices.