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Yitzhak Frenkel

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Isaac Frenkel Frenel
File:Frenkel Frenel.jpg
Frenkel Frenel
Born
Yitzhak Frenkel

1899
Odessa
Died4 April 1981
Tel Aviv, Israel
Resting placeSafed, Israel
NationalityIsraeli, French
EducationÉcole de Paris, Académie de la Grande Chaumière
Known forArt: Painting, Sculpture
Notable workConnection of Objects
StyleExpressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Abstract, Realism,
MovementÉcole de Paris
Spouse(s)Yudith (1st, div), Miriam (2nd div), Ingrid (3rd died), Ilana (4th)
ChildrenEliyahu, Nahum, Eliezer, Igor, Grisha, Sasha, Igor, Laure, Ariane
AwardsDizengoff Prize 1934,1938,1939,1940,1948, Grand Prix de Paques (nude) 1972, Grand Prix de Noel (expressionism) 1972, Grand Prix de Deauville 1973, Grand prix International de Peinture de la Côte d’Azur en France Finale 1973
Websitehttps://www.frenkel-frenel.org/The_official_Isaac_Frenkel-Frenel_web_site/Welcome.html

Yitzhak Frenkel (Hebrew: יצחק פרנקל; 1899–1981), also known as Alexandre Frenel, was an Israeli painter and sculptor, seen as the father of modern art in Israel.[1] One of the most important Jewish artists of the l’École de Paris and its chief practitioner in Israel, gaining international recognition during his lifetime and exhibiting his work across the world.[2]

Considered the father of modern Israeli art. He is accredited with bringing the influence of the l’École de Paris to Israel, which until then was dominated by Orientalism.[1]

Early life: Odessa 1899-1919

Yitzhak Frenkel was born in 1899 in Odessa, Russian Empire. He was a great-grandson of the famous Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. In his youth he studied in a yeshiva where he met Chaim Glicksberg. As a child he lived right next to Bialik's and Rawnitzki's publishing house "Moriah".[3] In 1917, he studied under Aleksandra Ekster at the Fine Arts Academy in Odessa. Frenkel immigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1919 as part of the first wave of settlers of the Third Aliyah. He died in Tel Aviv in 1981 and was buried in Safed.[citation needed]

Revolutionizing Painting, 1920s and 1930s

In 1920, he established the artists' cooperative in Jaffa and an artists' studio in Gymnasia Herzliya where gave lessons in painting and sculpture. Later that year, he traveled to Paris where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière[4] at the studios of the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle and painter Henri Matisse. At the time his painting were abstract. Towards the end of 1920, Frenkel Frenel traveled to Egypt where he showcased his works in an exhibition before returning to Paris.[citation needed]

He exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants alongside other artists of his time, such as Soutine. They were both noticed by art critic Waldermar George. Waldermar George told Frenkel during the time "Do not return to Palestine, they will eat you there" (Frenkel would return in 1925).[3] In 1924, the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian acquired two of his abstract paintings for an English collector.[3][5]

File:עקידת יצחק.JPG
Yitzhak Frenkel,Binding of Isaac, 1924, oil on canvas
File:Paris 1920s 1930s Frenkel Frenel.jpg
View from his Parisian apartment, Frenkel Frenel

Frenkel returned to Palestine in 1925 where he revolutionized painting.[6] He opened the Histadrut Art School in Tel Aviv. In Israel he was considered extreme in his artistic orientations. His students included Shimshon Holzman, Mordechai Levanon, David Hendler, Joseph Kossonogi, and Siona Tagger. He was a mentor to Bezalel students Avigdor Stematsky, Yehezkel Streichman, Moshe Castel, and Arie Aroch. All those who studied under him absorbed French influence and most them would go to learn in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s. Frenkel's style was closer to the abstract painting to which he was exposed in Paris than the orientalism that was popular in Palestine at that time.[citation needed]

In 1926, he presented in the "Ohel" theater his abstract work, compositions of geometric shapes and alongside them landscape paintings. The exhibition in the Ohel was called "Modern Artists", Tel Aviv's response to the conservative Bezalel driven art in Jerusalem's Tower of David exhibition. Frenkel and his students featured heavily in "Modern Artists".[3] In this period an expressionistic tendency in his work begins to arise, especially in his choice of colour. By the time he returned to Paris in 1929 his expressionist style came into form.[citation needed]

In 1927 his painting in the exhibition of the School Lebanim, is considered the piece that heralded the victory of the modernist art of the École de Paris over Bezalel's conservative school.[3]


File:Frenkel Frenel Abstract Cubism.jpg
Portugal, 1920s 1930s Abstract Cubism

1930s: Return and settling of Safed

In 1934, he made Safed his home, becoming the first artist to settle in the ancient holy city, 14 years before the "Artists' Colony" was formally established. There he painted the ancient synagogues, narrow lanes, local inhabitants and surrounding countryside.[7] During that period he completely abandons the abstract style and embarks in the search of other, vibrant styles. In that same year, he designed the "Adloyada" carnival in Tel Aviv. In 1936 he began designing sets and costumes for the "HaOhel" theater. He will continue engaging in the sort of work until 1949, continuing his work both for the "HaOhel" theater as well as the "HaBima" theater. During that same period he also painted portraits of several famous actors who worked for the said theaters.[3][citation needed]

In 1937, he embarked on a journey, painting Israel from point to point, North to South. He painted Safed, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Negev desert as well as the Galilee. He made 13 exhibitions on the motif of Safed up-to 1950.[citation needed]

1940s: Historic Recording

In the year 1948, the year of Israel's independence, he will be allowed to record historic milestones in the Israel's story. Painting the first meeting of the Knesset as well as the first meeting of the military committee of the IDF. He also made portraits of the first 120 MKs (Members of the Knesset).[8][9]

Isaac Frenkel Frenel, Safed
File:ישיבת המטכ"ל הראשונה First IDF Committee Meeting, Frenkel Frenel 1948, יצחק פרנקל.jpg
First IDF Committee Meeting, Yaacov Dori and David Ben Gurion can be seen.

In 1949, he would become one of the founders of the "Artists Colony of Safed". He chose to distance himself from most of the artists of the colony, leading to the colony's resentment of him.[3]

File:Mystical Safed Frenkel Frenel יצחק פרנקל צפת.jpg
Frenkel Frenel "Safed At Night" 1948

He was the first painter chosen by the State of Israel to represent the Jewish State at the Venice Bienniale.[5] In 1950 he exhibited his work in the 25th and 26th Bienniale of Venice, representing Israel. In 1952 he exhibited again in Paris.

1950s and onwards: Frenel

Isaac Alexandre Frenkel Frenel, Safed

In 1954 he returned to France. There he studied glassworks and he created vitrages (Window glass work), which were ordered by the Baroness Alix de Rothshild for a chapel in Normandy in the north of France. During the six year period between 1954 and 1960 he started to sign his works as "Frenel"...[10][11] This along with his vitrage made for a Christian chapel led some in Israel to believe he had abandoned Judaism for Christianity, a claim that is completely false.[11]

He is considered one of the most important Jewish "École de Paris" painters; along with Soutine, Mogdiliani, Kikone, Kremegne, Manne Katz and Paskin.[2] He presented his work in one-man shows all over the world. By 1960 he had presented his works in one-man shows in museums and galleries stretching the globe from Europe and the Americas to South Africa and Asia. From 1960 he returns regularly to Israel. However, being outcast due to false rumours and the antagonism the tradition artistic establishment held toward him, he would be almost unable to exhibit his works in Israel and thereafter live in Paris and used Tzfat/Safed as his summer home.[citation needed][11][12]

In 1973, his house reopened as a museum, the Frenkel Frenel Museum, showcasing his work. In July 1979, Frenkel had a one-man show at the Orangerie in Paris.[4]

File:Ilana, Fourth Wife of Frenkel Frenel אילנה אשתו הרביעית של יצחק פרנקל.jpg
Expressionism, Ilana fourth wife of Frenkel Frenel

Expressionist works of Frenkel pinpoint the expression of inner experience rather than solely realistic portrayal, seeking to depict not objective reality but the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in them. His exalts colours reveal his most hidden emotions and express passion and drama. When he paints his wife Ilana, the colours express an erotical explosion.[13]

The Artist with the President of the Senate, Alain Poher, in the Orangerie Exhibition, 1979, Paris

In 1979 he had a One-man show at the famous "Orangerie" of Paris, in celebration of his 80th birthday; inaugurated by the President of the French Senate, Alain Poher.[5]

He died in 1981 in Tel Aviv and was buried in Safed.

Awards and commemoration

Yitzhak Frenel-Frenkel memorial plaque, Tel Aviv

Frenkel won the Dizengoff Prize for painting four times, in 1938, 1939, 1940 and again in 1948.[14] He took part in the 24th and 25th Venice Biennales, firstly a pre-independence exhibit and then represented the first time Israel participated.

Exhibitions

Prizes

  • Dizengoff Prize (Tel Aviv) 1935;1938;1939;1940;1948
  • 1st Prize for Litography-French pavilion-in the International Lithography Exhibition (Bruxelles Belgium)  1958
  • Grand prix de Paques(nude) 1972
  • Grand prix de Noel (expressionism) 1972
  • Grand prix International de Peinture de la Côte d’Azur en Frande Finale 1973
  • Grand prix International de Deauville 1973[15]

Selected collections

  • Israel Museum, Jerusalem
  • Frenkel Frenel House, Safed

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Schule von Paris – Wikipedia – Enzyklopädie". wiki.edu.vn (in German). Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  2. ^ a b "Estimation et cote de Alexandre FRENEL | Expertise gratuite". Mr Expert (in French). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ofrat, Gideon (23 November 1979). "Enough with all the Frenkels!". Haaretz Weekly. pp. 28, 29, 30.
  4. ^ a b Alexandre Frenel (Isaac Frenkel aka) - Odessa - 1899 - Tel Aviv - 1981
  5. ^ a b c "Alexandre FRENEL". Bureau d’art Ecole de Paris. 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  6. ^ "Alexandre FRENEL". Bureau d’art Ecole de Paris. 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  7. ^ A house in Safed
  8. ^ "FRENKEL FRENEL MUSEUM". www.frenkel-frenel.org. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  9. ^ "מדוע לא צויר טקס הכרזת המדינה?". המחסן של גדעון עפרת (in Hebrew). 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  10. ^ שץ, אורן (2017-06-02). "יצחק פרנקל-פרנל (1900 – 1981)". עסקי אמנות (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  11. ^ a b c "⁨הנ יי ר שהושמץ וסבל חזר לב יתו 11 ⁩ — ⁨⁨מעריב⁩ 26 יולי 1960⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  12. ^ "⁨"מאלצים י אות _להעביר את תמרנות י לחוץ"לארץ" ⁩ — ⁨⁨מעריב⁩ 5 יוני 1963⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים". www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  13. ^ "Expressionism". www.frenkel-frenel.org. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  14. ^ "List of Dizengoff Prize laureates" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Tel Aviv Municipality.
  15. ^ "Yitzhak Alexander Frenkel Frenel". www.frenkel-frenel.org. Retrieved 2019-08-08.

Further reading

  • Barzel, Amnon. Isaac Alexander Frenel. Jerusalem: Massada Press, 1974.
  • Gumprecht-Linke, S. Frenel: École de Paris. Amsterdam: Israel Galerie Linka, 1977.
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