Lipchitz was born in Lithuania in the last decade of the 19th
century. He lived in Lithuania
until he was 18 and then he moved to Paris to study art.
Paris was the center of exciting art and now-legendary
artists at that time. Lipchitz
flourished. Considered the first
Cubist sculptor, he broke new ground and met with much success.
World War ll brought great danger to Lipchitz. He escaped to America in 1941.
After the war, Lipchitz settled in America – in the lovely
river town, Hastings on Hudson, New York.
riverrun bookshop settled in the same lovely river town 30
years later. Lipchitz died in
1973, 5 years before riverrun, but the store’s original founder, Frank
Scioscia, did live in Hastings on Hudson at the same time as Jacques Lipchitz
did. I don’t think they knew one
another. No doubt, however, they both admired the same majestic palisades
towering over the Hudson River and both liked the same comfortable streets in
town.
By this time Lipchitz was spending months of each year
working in his studio in Italy. I’ve heard a story – possibly true – that the
village trustees mistook his long studio trips for a permanent move away from
Hastings on Hudson. The sculptor
was a village treasure. The trustees tried to purchase one of his sculptures
for the town to commemorate his long-time residence here. According to the story, Lipchitz
laughed, assured the trustees that he and his wife had no intention of moving,
and GAVE a large sculpture to the village.
However it happened, Hastings on Hudson does have an impressive
Lipchitz sculpture mounted in the prominent grassy space by the town library
and courthouse.
The artist himself died in Italy and is buried in Jerusalem,
but part of him presides over the village from the hill by the library. You can see that sculpture on your walk
to riverrun. Or, in case you are
too far to stroll over to riverrun, I will post a photo shortly. As well as the little I know of Zazel.
*********
A lengthy and fascinating article about Lipchitz, his art,
his life, and his religion. There
is a sense of immediacy in this
article that makes the reader feel privy to inside knowledge:
Tate Gallery artist biography:
art directory biography:
searchable interview plus photos of work:
Lithuania:
http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/lithuania/index_en.htm
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