By Théo Tobiasse
Located in Miami, FL
THÉO TOBIASSE (1927–2012) – “LES SIÈCLES COULENT ENTRE NOS RÊVES”
Lithograph on Arches Paper ⚜ Hand Signed and Numbered ⚜ Gilt Wood Frame
A LUMINOUS MEDITATION ON MEMORY, INTIMACY, AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME
From the acclaimed suite Un Chant d’Exil et de Lumière (A Song of Exile and Light), this richly saturated lithograph is one image from a series of six distinct compositions published in 1997 by Klim Art Publisher, Toronto, and printed by master lithographer Pierre Chave at his celebrated atelier in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The multi-color lithographic process, employing up to twenty-three separate color passes, produces the extraordinary depth and chromatic intensity visible across the entire composition.
Two figures sit together at a table, each holding a glass of wine. A samovar and two lit candles anchor the still life at center, surrounded by scattered fruit and a bowl bearing an olive branch. A vibrant rainbow canopy arcs across the upper portion of the image, while a dove takes flight at upper right. Behind the couple hangs a decorative tablet adorned with flowering branches and scrolled columns. The title, inscribed in the artist’s hand within the composition, translates as “The centuries flow between our dreams,” a poetic distillation of the suite’s overarching contemplation of generational memory passing through shared moments of intimacy.
What initially reads as a warm, intimate gathering reveals itself as a layered reflection on heritage, belonging, and the rituals that connect one generation to the next. The samovar recalls Tobiasse’s Eastern European childhood, while the olive branch and candles carry associations of renewal and hope. The dove and rainbow reinforce themes of peace and covenant that recur throughout Tobiasse’s oeuvre. Rendered on heavy Arches paper with deckled edges, the print retains a tactile, handmade quality that complements its emotional warmth. Presented in a crosshatch gilt wood frame the work suits interiors that embrace color and narrative, from a Mediterranean-inspired living space to a collector’s library or a gallery wall dedicated to the School of Paris tradition.
WHY COLLECT THIS WORK?
✓ Suite Provenance – One of six distinct compositions from Tobiasse’s acclaimed Un Chant d’Exil et de Lumière series, published in 1997
✓ Master Printed – Produced by Pierre Chave in Saint-Paul-de-Vence using up to twenty-three color passes
✓ Hand Signed and Numbered – Pencil signed lower right, numbered 87/199
✓ Rich Symbolic Composition – Dove, rainbow, samovar, olive branch, and candle layered with personal and cultural meaning
✓ Gilt Wood Frame – Crosshatch gilt finish, ready to display
ARTWORK DETAILS:
▸ Title: Les Siècles Coulent Entre Nos Rêves (The Centuries Flow Between Our Dreams)
▸ Suite: Un Chant d’Exil et de Lumière (A Song of Exile and Light)
▸ Artist: Théo Tobiasse (1927–2012)
▸ Medium: Lithograph on Arches Paper with Deckled Edges
▸ Year of Creation: 1997
▸ Signature: Hand Signed Lower Right in Pencil
▸ Edition: 87/199
▸ Publisher: Klim Art Publisher, Toronto, Canada
▸ Printer: Pierre Chave, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
▸ Provenance: Michael Hittleman Gallery, Los Angeles
▸ Country of Origin: France
▸ Dimensions:
— ◼︎ Image Area: 30.5 x 22 inches
— ◼︎ Paper Size: 36 x 27.25 inches
— ◻︎ Frame Size: 44 x 35 x 0.875 inches
▸ Condition: Excellent, commensurate with age
▸ Framing: Crosshatch Gilt Wood Frame, ready to display
THE ARTIST:
Théo Tobiasse (born Tobias Eidesas, 1927, Jaffa, Israel; died 2012...
Category
1990s Modern Graham Sutherland Figurative Prints
