Artist: Leo Roth (1914–2002)
Technique: Color Lithograph on Paper
Dimensions (Paper Size): 50x70 cm
Status: Pencil Signed (Lower Right), Marked A.P (Lower Left), Unframed
About the Artwork:
This original color lithograph by Israeli artist Leo Roth captures the dramatic biblical narrative of Isaac blessing Jacob. Rendered in his signature Cubist-influenced style, the composition features an elderly, bearded Isaac reclining while placing his hand in blessing upon the head of Jacob. Jacob kneels below, holding a platter containing the prepared savory meal. In the upper background, the watchful figure of Rebecca peeks out from behind a dark drapery, orchestrating the scene. Roth employs rich, saturated tones of crimson, emerald green, and deep amber, balancing geometric structure with narrative depth. The print is hand-signed in pencil by the artist in the lower right corner, marked as an Artist's Proof (A.P) on the lower left, and presented unframed on premium 50x70 cm paper.
About the Artist:
Leo (later Lior) Roth (1914–2002) was a foundational Israeli painter whose life and art embodied the pioneering spirit and ideological passion of the kibbutz movement. Born in Galicia, Poland, his family moved to Germany before he immigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1933. Embracing the chalutzic (pioneer) ideal, Roth worked as a shepherd and farmer at Kvutzat Kinneret before settling permanently at Kibbutz Afikim in the Jordan Valley. In 1951, his kibbutz sent him to Paris to study fresco and mural painting, a journey that deeply enriched his style. Upon his return, he was appointed director of the Art Academy of the Kibbutz Movement, mentoring generations of rural artists. Roth's colorful and structured canvases were heavily influenced by Cubism and share a powerful visual dialogue with the works of Naftali Bezem. His art seamlessly blends profound Biblical imagery with poignant representations of early pioneer culture, capturing the monumental essence of labor, community, and the Israeli land.