Henry Pearlman
Jacques Lipchitz (Lithuanian, 1891-1973)
Henry Pearlman, 1952
Bronze
h. with base 41.5 x 21 x 26 cm. (16 5/16 x 8 1/4 x 10 1/4 in.)
Signed and stamped with the artist's thumbprint, at nape of neck: J. Lipchitz
Provenance
Commissioned from the artist by Henry Pearlman in 1952; Henry and Rose Pearlman Foundation, after 1974.
Critical Perspective
Pearlman described the sittings for this portrait as "exhilarating." Perhaps the artist and his patron discussed their mutual admiration of Cézanne’s work, or Lipchitz’s friendships with Soutine and Modigliani, whom he introduced in 1915. Lipchitz wrote of this work, "This is a good strong portrait and I believe reflects the simplicity and at the same time the force and intelligence of this remarkable man." The artist believed that Pearlman had commissioned the work in part to assist him financially after a fire destroyed his studio.