SCHMELTZ Paintings

The 49 color illustrations of Schmeltz Paintings by Bruno Schmeltz are like a surreal narrative story, dealing with giant monolithic blocks, construction of new structures, and people, including many voluptuous nude women, gloriously bathed in bright sunlight. The images and people are Jewish and/or Arab, the setting is the Middle East. It's like a tale of modern Palestinian and Israeli settlements juxtaposed with antiquity, by way of the huge stones.

What is most striking is not only the superb classical painting style, totally realistic and grounded in the academic traditions, but also the magical, brilliant quality of light; Schmeltz is a master of bright, warm light reflecting off the blocks of stone, warming smooth naked skin, drenching each work in rich, sensual detail. Text in French. Out of Print. Condition: Fine. Softly bumped spine corners and a tiny chip on the spine. Rubbing at bottom edge and center of front cover.