Jakub Zucker (1900, Radom – 1981, New York), Rural Landscape

Biography
At the age of 13, he fled to Palestine. After 1913, he attended the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design there. In 1925, he settled in Paris, where he studied at the Académie Julian and the Académie Colarossi. Beginning in 1927, he exhibited his works at the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Tuileries. After World War II, he moved to New York. He painted genre scenes—including those related to Jewish folklore—landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. Jakub Zucker’s painting is characterized by impasto, expressively applied patches of color, and a vibrant color palette. The artist’s creative philosophy is best expressed in his own words: “I do not paint for money, nor out of a sense of duty, nor to achieve success and fame. I paint for the glory of God, in gratitude for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I paint for myself, because art is the surest path to freedom, an escape from life’s problems.”