The cyclamen by Arthur Kolnik, set against a stark black background, bursts from its golden pot. Although the painting measures only a small fraction of a wall, its presence is undeniable (39 x 29 cm).
Bold Simplicity
Kolnik’s choice of a black background is striking. It isolates the subject — a cyclamen in full bloom. The contrast allows the crimson petals and emerald leaves to glow, while the ochre-yellow flower pot grounds the composition with warmth.
The Language of Color and Form
Despite the floral subject, this is not a decorative work in the conventional sense. The shapes are stylized yet rooted in reality. Kolnik’s use of bold outlines and flat color planes recalls modernist traditions, where form and emotion outweigh photorealism. Each brushstroke is deliberate, each hue carefully chosen.
There’s an emotional precision here. The flower may suggest life and fragility, but the thick, almost sculptural paint application tells us it’s also about resilience and inner structure. The red petals radiate vitality, while the dark backdrop gives them a quiet dignity.
Arthur Kolnik
Arthur Kolnik’s Still Life is a striking example of his ability to blend modernist clarity with deep emotional sensitivity. Born in 1890 in Stanisławów (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Ukraine), Kolnik was a Jewish painter and printmaker who studied in Lviv and later in Paris, where he became a part of the vibrant École de Paris. Throughout his career, he maintained a consistent fascination with expressive forms and cultural identity, particularly Jewish life in Eastern Europe — yet his still lifes reveal another, more contemplative side of his artistic persona.
Kolnik’s approach is firmly rooted in modernist aesthetics. His brushwork is deliberate and textured, emphasizing form over realism. The leaves, outlined with decisive strokes of green, sit almost like cutouts around the flowers, giving a slightly graphic quality to the arrangement. The petals themselves are not delicately rendered but painted in bold, curved strokes that highlight their movement and vitality rather than their botanical accuracy.
Our gallery
This vibrant still life, signed by Arthur Kolnik in the lower right corner, is a rare opportunity to own a work by the artist. Its bold palette and expressive style make it a captivating addition to any collection. Given the scarcity of Kolnik’s paintings on the market, this piece is both an aesthetic treasure and a valuable acquisition.
Kings Gallery is a leading fine art gallery established in Jerusalem in 1995. Particularly, we strive to collect and sell the highest quality historic and contemporary Israeli and International art. The gallery specializes primarily in artists from the early period of the 1920’s. Besides, Kings Gallery features leading up-and-coming young artists who will definitely be prominent names in the next few years.
