Reuven Rubin

Reuven Rubin, a prominent Israeli painter known for his contributions to the modern art scene in Israel. Born on November 13, 1893, in Galați, Romania, as Rubin Zelicovici, he was the eighth of thirteen children in a poor Jewish Hasidic family. In 1912, he moved to Ottoman-ruled Palestine to study at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. However, he found himself at odds with the academy’s teachers and left a year later to continue his studies in Paris at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.

During World War I, Rubin returned to Romania, where he spent the war years in Fălticeni. In 1921, he traveled to the United States with fellow artist Arthur Kolnik and organized a show at the Anderson Gallery in New York City with the help of artist Alfred Stieglitz. After the exhibition, Rubin returned to Europe in 1922 and emigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1923.

Rubin’s art is characterized by vibrant colors and depictions of the landscapes and people of Israel. He often portrayed pioneers of the early Zionist movement, rural scenes, and the cultural diversity of the land. Using earthy tones and simple brushstroke techniques, Rubin created a biblical vision of Israel’s landscape and its people in a dreamlike style.

In 1928, Rubin met his wife, Esther, on a passenger ship to Palestine after a show in New York City. Esther was a Bronx girl who had won a trip to Palestine in a Young Judea competition. Rubin became internationally recognized for his work and was elected chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors of Palestine. He was also the founder of the new Eretz-Yisrael style.

From the 1930s onwards, Rubin created backdrops for many theaters and held several art shows, including one in 1932 at the Tel Aviv Art Museum. He served as Israel’s first ambassador to Romania from 1948 to 1950. Rubin passed away on October 13, 1974, in Tel Aviv, Israel. His house was converted into the “Rubin House” Museum, where all his works are displayed today.