By COLlive reporter
An original from the renowned chassidic artist Zalman Kleinman is one of the top lots to be sold at the Kestenbaum & Company Judaica auction in New York on Thursday.
Its pre-auction estimate is $25,000-30,000. “Works by Zalman Kleinman very infrequently appear at auction,” the catalog states.
An oil on canvas, the impressive painting is entitled “The Violinist” and executed in vibrant colors and delightful detail, as familiar to the many admirers of the Lubavitcher chossid’s celebrated work.
Kleinman was born in Leningrad in 1933. Despite a childhood filled with war and anti-Semitism in politics, Kleinman’s work is not filled with sadness or tragic recollections. Rather he sought to evoke the tenacity of the Chassidic culture that refused to succumb to hardships in communist Russia.
At the age of 13, Kleinman left Russia to travel with a group of Polish Jews through Displaced Persons’ camps, finally settled in France for three years at a yeshiva in Paris. Kleinman then traveled to Israel and joined the army as an artist for the military rabbinate after studying in Paris.
His artist’s studies where briefly sponsored by Zalman Shazar, the third president of Israel, before Kleinman made the decision to develop his talents without formal training. After several years in Israel, Kleinman returned to Paris, where he met and married his wife Rosa. The Kleinmans settled in Crown Heights, Brooklyn after having traveled to New York, where they would raise a family.
Kleinman illustrated books and magazines while developing a reputation as a painter and was able to support his family as an artist. He was very highly respected in the Chassidic community of his artistic talents and strong faith and resided in Crown Heights until his death in 1995.
Historic Chabad-related items to be offered for auction sale include:
* The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s wedding invitation from 1929, signed and dated, along with an autographed line of greeting by the Frierdiker Rebbe.
* A letter written in 1950 by Rebbetzin Nechama Dinah Schneerson signed along with her two sons-in-laws: the Rebbe and R’ Shemaryahu Gurary.
* Letters from the rabbis of Nikolayev: R. Avrohom Dovid Lavut (maternal grandfather of the Rebbe) and R. Shmuel Schneerson, (paternal uncle of the Rebbe).
* Autograph Letters by the Rogatchover Gaon. As well as a personally inscribed and signed copy of his Tzofnas Pane’ach.
To view the detailed auction catalogue, please visit www.kestenbaum.net.
As a child I used to go to his house and watch him paint. Even as a child I saw the brilliance in his work. He was also an amazing family man and left behind a special wife and darling children.
Wow, amazing – to see the invite to the Rebeb and Rebetzins chasina. How was this item found?
“R. Shmuel Schneerson, (paternal uncle of the Rebbe).”
R. Shmuel Schneerson also married Rebetzin Chana’s sister, so he was an uncle from both sides.