LUDWIG BLUM (CZECH-ISRAELI 1891-1975) Jerusalem 1936 oil on canvas 60.5 x 73 cm (23 7/8 x 28 3/4 in.) signed dated lower left PROVENANCE Matsart, Tel Aviv, Israel, November 27, 2012, Lot 24 Private Collection, USA LOT NOTES Mira Chen, granddaughter of the artist, has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this painting. Ludwig Blum was a Czech-born Israeli painter known for his luminous landscapes and cityscapes. Sometimes called the "Painter of Jerusalem," Blum’s work blends the traditions of European academic realism with a deep personal and national connection to the emerging Israeli state. Born in Lidice, Czechoslovakia, Blum studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and was trained in the classical style, with an emphasis on precise draftsmanship and atmospheric composition. After emigrating to Palestine in 1923, he brought this European sensibility to a radically different environment-geographically, culturally, and spiritually. Jerusalem, captures a moment of quiet splendor in the hills surrounding the ancient city, offering a vision of the land that is both grounded in observation and elevated by emotional resonance. At the heart of the composition is a dense flowering bush, rendered with thick, expressive brushstrokes in a riot of rose, pink, and crimson tones. It dominates the foreground, rooted among golden rocks and scrubby grass, which are typical of the arid hillsides of Jerusalem. Behind it, a more varied array of flora stretches across the middle ground-perhaps cultivated gardens or the natural bounty of spring-before giving way to the wide, clear Mediterranean sky above. The simplicity of the horizon invites reflection, while the tactile surface of the paint emphasizes the earthiness and texture of the landscape. Though Jerusalem itself is not directly visible in the painting, its presence is implied: the scene conveys a deep sense of place through vegetation, geology, and light. Blum was not concerned here with iconic architecture or religious monuments. Instead, he turns his attention to the living environment, portraying the land with a painter’s intimacy and a pioneer’s admiration. Today, Ludwig Blum is recognized as a key figure in Israeli art. His works are held in institutions such as the Israel Museum.