Marion Scott Gallery, Vancouver
Acquired from the above by the present Private Collection, Vancouver
Heffel, auction, Toronto, 3-31 October 2019, lot 531
Private Collection, British Columbia
Literature
Catherine Tobiasse, "Tobiasse: 50 ans de peinture: Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint", Milan, 2024, catalogue no. 02194
Born in Israel and brought to Paris as a child, Theo Tobiasse lived in solitary confinement through the German occupation during the Second World War. The survival of his Jewish family would prove to be an enduring source of inspiration for him, with many of his works exploring the theme of exile and alienation from Judaism. A crowd of Jewish men wearing long button coats dance joyously. With their arms raised into the air, they lift the figure of a rabbi. While the background is simple, combining murky brown and grey tones, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, with its flying buttresses, towers and spire, rises in the distance alongside the iconic Hausmannian buildings. Despite examining childhood memories steeped in fear and isolation, Tobiasse presents a vision of hope for humanity.
We would like to thank Catherine Tobiasse for confirming the authenticity of this work. The work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné published by Silvana Editoriale under the inventory number 02194.
