A masterful painting by Lubavitcher artist Hendel Lieberman, is up for auction at Kestenbaum and company’s November 13th, 2014 auction.
Chenoch Lieberman (1900-76) was a Chassidic artist whose work in later years has become enormously popular, especially throughout the world of Lubavitch.
Catalog description:
Lot: 347 LIEBERMAN, CHENOCH HENDEL. Intense Prayer. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated by the artist lower right. Framed. 25.5 x 17.5 inches. (See research paper by Joshua Dubrovsky, Chassidic Art Institute, Brooklyn, NY.)
“America,” 1962, $50,000 – $60,000
-A masterful painting by a Lubavitcher artist, whose work most infrequently appears at public auction.
Chenoch Lieberman (1900-76) was a Chassidic artist whose work in later years has become enormously popular, especially throughout the world of Lubavitch.
Born in Polotsk, Russia, into the Futerfass family, long-standing Lubavitcher Chassidim going back generations, Lieberman was a student at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in White Russia. As with so many Jewish families of that time and place, harsh circumstances forced the family to move and in 1916, they settled in Moscow. There, Lieberman’s impulses led him to form an artistic relationship with the Russian sculptor Innocento Zhukov who subsequently arranged entrance for the Chassidic artist to study in the Moscow Academy of Arts.
Lieberman’s studies culminated in a year-long painting expedition to Birobidzhan, in the Soviet Far East, where he captured a range of subjects from Chassidim learning Torah to Siberian laborers. Returning to Moscow, Lieberman was employed by the government as a commercial artist until the outbreak of war, whereupon he was conscripted to join the Red Army. After years away fighting, Lieberman returned home in 1945 to learn of the murder of his wife and two daughters by the Nazis. Due to rampant Soviet oppression against the practice of Judaism, Lieberman joined others from the Lubavitch community in finding refuge in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, before ultimately fleeing the USSR posing as a displaced Pole. Afraid that the KGB would track him down, he changed his name from Futerfass to the more Polish-sounding Lieberman. After an extended journey (one in which his brother, the famed Chossid Reb Mendel Futerfass was arrested and subsequently imprisoned in Siberia), Lieberman finally found a modicum of safety in Paris. His life shattered, he corresponded from there to the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Yoseph Yitzchok Schneerson in New York, seeking counsel about the one thing that still had personal meaning, reconciling his art with his religion.
Over a period of time, the conflict between Lieberman’s artistic calling and his devout Chassidic way of life became resolved and finding renewed spiritual resources he returned to painting, consumed with a regained vision. Paris was the ideal city to nourish his artistic inspiration, and Lieberman’s art flourished. Yet the burden of history and personal tragedies continued to weigh heavily on Lieberman and following the accession of R. Menachem Mendel Schneerson to the leadership of Lubavitch in 1950, Lieberman felt drawn to him and consequently left Europe and moved to the United States.
The new Rebbe, son-in-law of Yoseph Yitzchok Schneerson, also urged Lieberman not to abandon his talent, but to use it in the service of God and humanity. Often suffering from severe depression, Lieberman derived great comfort from the religious understanding that the Rebbe provided. Now living in physical proximity to the headquarters of Lubavitch, he flourished again. He was an artist occupying an honored position behind the Rebbe at prayers, celebrations and lectures and became an important figure in the life of Lubavitch Brooklyn.
In the present painting one cannot miss the classical art references to Cubist and Expressionist Art in Lieberman’s work – the bold use of color and the emotive brush work.
This painting has become an iconic image within the pantheon of classic Chabad-related historical images.
More information here
or Kestenbaum.net
I just acquired a landscape painting with the signature HENDEL in lower left corner. Where can I check to see if it is an original? Would like to sell it
there is a beautiful article about leiberman printed in one of last years perspectives (written by his nephew rabbi YM Kagan obm)
Best artist ever.
The light is coming in from behind the aron (mizrach wall) so it’s morning, and he’s not wearing tefillin so it’s probably Shabbos morning. I would title this painting Shabbos Morning. The (not-to) scale of the bird in relation to the tree and flowers is also interesting. There is the beautiful detail of the soot on the glass lamp.
BS”D Very observant and perceptive but maybe reading too much into the work?. Having the subject facing the aron kodesh AND seeing his face would have been a challenge, but doable. However the Rebbe was always concerned that artists portray inyonei kodesh accurately, ie placement of head tefillin, etc. There is a halacha against one standing with back to Aron Kodesh, but inside a shul would be acceptable. Reb Hendel created many variations of this theme/scene of the lone late chassid davener, the only things missing are his classic cat and rooster. Lovely story and fascinating history to read, Thanks… Read more »
This painting is on the cover of one of the earlier nichoach records, (I think the first) if you purchase the record (cd) you get this painting.
To number 3:
As a new Bal Teshuvah in the early ’70’s the famed chassidic artist Reb Michoel was also greatly impacted by Reb Chanoch and his ability to bridge the gap between thw world of art and thw world of chassidus.
I bought a Hendel Futerfas painting for my wife last year for her birthday and we coudlnt be happier it hangs in our living room and anyone who comes to our home asks about it… he is well on his way to becoming a great like his namesake.. I think he is on Facebook under Hendels Art ..
why don’t you just bid in the auction to how much you think it’s worth?
art is worth as much as what someone is wiling to pay.
I’ve heard that he’s the chossid in the painting
Where can you buy his art
Hendel Futerfas is awesome check out his art!!!
50,000 is way too litlle!
That his nephew Hendel Futerfas paints as well and his stuff is getting sold for thousands already….
Notice the Chosid’s back to the Aron Kodesh. Significant. Also, the lamp is in front of him, though unlit. Daylight streaming through the window, and apparently a window behind the Aron through which sunlight lights up the walls and room. Apparently, there’s enough air circulation behind the Aron to avoid heat affecting the Sefer Torah. While the first impression in the stark room may be that of a Chosid immersed in Davening, the bird singing outside the window, the colorful lower leaves and green upper leaves lend harmony to his Avodah. Besides, the blue walls and ceiling may convey an… Read more »
Where can I purchase copies of his paintings?
Thanks
he is reffered to as the father of chassidic art for he was zalman klainmans teacher.
Y 50k? How do you evaluate?
I think it’s too low
Wow! what a treasure… an iconic image by a true Chossid… I remember him from the farbrengens.