Rediscovering the Past, Empowering the Future

Join us on a captivating journey through the life and legacy of Pinchas Litvinovsky, an often overlooked yet profoundly influential figure in Israeli art. Through these articles, we aim to shed light on Litvinovsky’s remarkable artistic career and explore how his work continues to inspire and empower future generations.

This series of essays accompanies the exhibition “You Must Choose Life – That Is Art: Pinchas Litvinovsky,” currently on display at Beit Avi Chai until May 30, 2025.

David E. Rozenson

The Enigma of Pinchas Litvinovsky How is it possible that an artist of Litvinovsky's caliber has been largely forgotten and his life and work are still very much shrouded in mystery? By David E. Rozenson

Becoming an Artist From a cheder in a small town in the south of Ukraine to an art school scholarship in the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Odessa By David E. Rozenson

Searching for Art After a short and disappointing stint at Bezalel in Jerusalem, Litvinovsky managed to enter the Imperial Academy of Arts in Petrograd By David E. Rozenson

Litvinovsky the Bohemian Upon returning from Jerusalem, Litvinovsky found himself amidst the immense cultural outburst of the Silver Age in Russian art and literature By David E. Rozenson

Back Again Pogroms in Europe prompted Pinchas Litvinovsky to return to Eretz Israel and join the nascent art scene there By David E. Rozenson

The Experience of Color Bringing back influences from Paris, Pinchas Litvinovsky found great success on Israel’s art scene By David E. Rozenson

Litvinovsky’s Last Decade When already in his ninth decade, Litvinovsky returned to Ilya Repin’s “Cossacks”, the painting that began his life-long quest of capturing meaning through art By David E. Rozenson

The Art and Legacy of Pinchas Litvinovsky