A Collector’s View of Collecting Art

By Fima Lifshitz M.D.

This book was prepared by researching publicly available information, selected references, published books and from information obtained from artists. I have had the pleasure of knowing many of the painters and sculptors personally and over many decades; much of the information presented in this book is from them. The art depicted was all in my collection, although some pieces have been sold, most have been gifted – donated to museums and other institutions – prior to the completion of this book.

I thank all of the artists who created the art that has given me utmost pleasure over many years. I have wonderful memories of time spent with the artists who became my friends. Additionally, I thank all those who appreciated my art collection and helped with the downsizing. This painful experience was somehow lessened, as the art is now in good hands, to be enjoyed by many now and in future generations. Foremost, I acknowledge my wife, Jere, who has been a partner in my life; she is the one who has endured all the toils, trials and tribulations of my collecting art, and to share with me our great journey of the “Art of Living with Art.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665528696

Fima Lifshitz M.D.

Fima Lifshitz, MD earned his degree in his native country, Mexico, at the National University of Mexico, UNAM. His Pediatric Internship and Residency was at the Children’s Hospital, University of Kansas Medical Center, followed by a Pediatric Endocrinology and Nutrition Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatric Endocrinology. He served as Professor of Pediatrics at Cornell University Medical College, University of Miami and the State University of New York. He was Chairman of Pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice-President of Medical Affairs at Miami Children’s Hospital. In Santa Barbara he was Chairman of Pediatrics, Senior Nutrition Scientist and Board Member at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. Also, he was an Attending Physician at Cottage Hospital and President of Pediatric Sunshine Academics. He retired in December, 2017. Dr. Lifshitz is the author or editor of 20 books, and published over 350 scientific papers, book chapters and review articles. Furthermore, he served as Editor-in-Chief of three journals: Journal of the American College of Nutrition; International Pediatrics; and Growth, Genetics & Hormones. He was a member of the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Lifshitz has been honored extensively; he is particularly proud of the Pediatric Research Center named for him at the Escola da Medicina da Universidade Federal da Bahia, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He was also bestowed an Honorary Professorship at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and he received the Insignia de Oro from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. He is an avid art collector and is a member in the Humanities and Fine Arts Dean’s Council at the University of California Santa Barbara.

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© 2021 Fima Lifshitz, M.D.. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-6655-2868-9 (sc)

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2021911857

Published by AuthorHouse 08/31/2021

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Contents

About the Author

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

I. Stages Of Collecting

II. Toils, Trials and Tribulations

III. Interweaving Art, Science and Medicine

IV. Collecting Art Around the World

European Art – 19th and 20th Century

Israeli Art 20th Century

American Art 19th - 20th Century

Latin American Art

Mexican Art

Asian Art

Oceanic Art

African Art

Art Related Quotes and Proverbs in the Text

Selective Bibliography to Complement Concepts and/or Topics.

This book was prepared by researching publicly available information, selected references, published books and from information obtained from artists. I have had the pleasure of knowing many of the painters and sculptors personally and over many decades; much of the information presented in this book is from them. The art depicted was all in my collection, although some pieces have been sold, most have been gifted – donated to museums and other institutions – prior to the completion of this book.

I thank all of the artists who created the art that has given me utmost pleasure over many years. I have wonderful memories of time spent with the artists who became my friends. Additionally, I thank all those who appreciated my art collection and helped with the downsizing. This painful experience was somehow lessened, as the art is now in good hands, to be enjoyed by many now and in future generations. Foremost, I acknowledge my wife, Jere, who has been a partner in my life; she is the one who has endured all the toils, trials and tribulations of my collecting art, and to share with me our great journey of the Art of Living with Art. I thank her profusely for all of the work she did to assist me with this book.

Note: All measurements are in centimeters.

About the Author

Fima Lifshitz, MD earned his degree in his native country, Mexico, at the National University of Mexico, UNAM. His Pediatric Internship and Residency was at the Children’s Hospital, University of Kansas Medical Center, followed by a Pediatric Endocrinology and Nutrition Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatric Endocrinology. He served as Professor of Pediatrics at Cornell University Medical College, University of Miami and the State University of New York. He was Chairman of Pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice-President of Medical Affairs at Miami Children’s Hospital. In Santa Barbara he was Chairman of Pediatrics, Senior Nutrition Scientist and Board Member at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. Also, he was an Attending Physician at Cottage Hospital and President of Pediatric Sunshine Academics. He retired in December, 2017.

Dr. Lifshitz is the author or editor of 20 books, and published over 350 scientific papers, book chapters and review articles. Furthermore, he served as Editor-in-Chief of three journals: Journal of the American College of Nutrition; International Pediatrics; and Growth, Genetics & Hormones. He was a member of the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Lifshitz has been honored extensively; he is particularly proud of the Pediatric Research Center named for him at the Escola da Medicina da Universidade Federal da Bahia, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He was also bestowed an Honorary Professorship at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and he received the Insignia de Oro from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. He is an avid art collector and is a member in the Humanities and Fine Arts Dean’s Council at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Dedication

You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your own legend, or not.

Isabel Allende

This book is part of my legend, collecting and loving art.

Fima Lifshitz, MD

Foreword

The acquisition of a painting created by his artist brother Elias, in 1961, began for Fima Lifshitz a cultural journey that has continued for over sixty years. His career as a pediatrician and eminent authority on pediatric endocrinology and nutrition have enabled him – with his dear wife and intellectual partner, Jere – to travel the world and visit scores of countries and a hundred museums. As a doctor, he has devoted himself to preserving and nurturing life; as an art collector, he has been dedicated to enhancing it.

Just as his initial interest in art was stimulated by those closest to him and by intimate experience, so his subsequent, passionate explorations focused on his familiar, native Mexico and its diverse cultures and traditions. From there, his curiosity led to the discovery of the arts of other Latin-American countries. He enthusiastically acquainted himself with and astutely acquired the paintings and sculptures of artists in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela – in some cases, long before the larger art world had recognized their contributions. Fima has also much admired and collected significant works from Africa, Asia, Europe, Israel, and North America, ranging from venerable Buddhist, Pre-Columbian, and tribal art to modern and the most avant-garde contemporary objects.

An inveterate voyager, the art that abundantly surrounds him – in almost every room and corner of his home – reminds him of his far-flung wanderings, adventures, and friendships. The works live for him both in the present and in memory. In the Lifshitz house, the art is not passive decoration, but a very personal, interactive, and immersive experience. A Collector’s View of Collecting Art shares the excitement, surprise, and, ultimately, the satisfaction of collecting.

The same large heart that motivates his work as a doctor is also behind his philanthropic impulse and has prompted his and Jere’s donations of artworks to three museums in Santa Barbara, so that they may be enjoyed by the community and by visitors from around the world. The Lifshitz also well understand the important, educational role that the arts play in promoting an understanding of – and tolerance for – the cultures and beliefs of others.

Sometimes, Fima’s medical and artistic interests intersect – insightfully, poignantly – as when he considers how brain trauma affected the artistic output of his painter-sculptor brother. Such thoughtful reflection and empathy inform his collection and every page of this volume.

Larry J. Feinberg

Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director

Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Preface

This book explores aspects of the road of my journey acquiring and collecting art, and then living with it. It is based on my personal experience of decades of living with a passion for fine arts. I am driven to enjoy all types of art and want to be surrounded by many treasured paintings and sculptures in my home. Satiating this appetite for art has been a challenge; however, it has been a most worthwhile and enjoyable pursuit. Collecting art has magnified my joy of life and given me delight of being surrounded by art that touched my most intimate senses. And to share it all with my dear wife, Jere.

I have frequently been asked, Is there too much art in your house? I have addressed this from the perspective of a collector’s view of collecting. The reader of the book may appreciate my answer.

Curiosity originally sparked my interest in art, this led to the development of the passion that culminated in collecting beautiful pieces which enhanced our living environment. I have always struggled with the challenges of displaying art in the limited space of an inhabited house or apartment – this can be quite problematic. Displaying a collection is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. It requires arranging and organizing all possessions, so the whole is better than the sum of its parts. A desired painting or sculpture always seemed to find an appropriate space; displaying it always magnified the emotional sensations of enjoyment and contentment derived from viewing the art at home. A well-organized collection has enhanced fulfillment, leading me to my motto, the art of living with art.

In this book I convey my personal experience in order to enlighten the reader regarding the toils, trials and tribulations as well as the joys of the passion of collecting. Acquiring objects is a most popular leisure activity in America. Art auction houses are a source of instant exhilaration at winning the desired piece of art; many collections have been built from art procured at auctions. This is not my modus operandi; the collection herein did not result from auctions. Many collectors seek specific items to satisfy a particular need or type of art. I have had a multifaceted approach, perhaps due to my multicultural exposure and my diverse life experience. I have acquired art from so many different countries, cultures and artists, with no other similarity than the beauty seen through my eyes. This allowed me to expand my view of collecting in an unconstrained way. I selected what I thought was the best of what I was exposed to and could acquire – around the world. Great variety, defines the multichromatic and quite varied style of the art collection.

I have been fortunate and able to manage the parallel responsibilities of a busy professional life with enjoyment of the opportunities of a personal involvement in collecting the art. This expanded my horizon’s, brought long-term satisfaction and joy. It enhanced my professional life by allowing a diverting, wonderful mental relaxation, in addition to the added benefits of the interactions and friendships with the creators of the art. What do the two passions of mine, being a physician and collecting art, have in common? There is never enough.

The many decades of adding art to my collection was finally coupled with giving the art away, so that others enjoy the art. This has also been a most productive and rewarding leisure time activity of my life. Isabel Allende said it clearly:

You spend the first part of your life collecting things…...and the second half getting rid of them.

As I ponder my legacy, I hope this book serves as a model to learn to balance work with following a passion in life.

I thank my good fortune in life, to Jere, my two sons, my family and my many dear friends.

Violeta Parra, the Chilean composer and singer, said it best:

"Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto."

Thanks to life, it has given me so much.

Fima Lifshitz, MD

I.

STAGES OF COLLECTING

Farm when it’s sunny, read when it rains.

-Japanese proverb

• Curiosity

• Interest

• Passion

• Expertise

• Sharing

• Divesting

• Grieving

Curiosity: In 1956 I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan along with a multitude of art museums in Washington, DC. This was a crucial experience that seeded my curiosity. The art was imposing, it heartened me and I acquired posters of Cubists and Impressionists to hang on my bedroom walls. Curiosity sparked my desire to seek out and understand this artistic stimulus. It provoked an inquisitive thinking, and led to exploration and appreciation of beautiful art.

Curiosity is a behavior evident in all humans, regardless of age, and is present throughout human development. Moreover, curiosity is a quality specifically attributed to humans; it differs from the innate exploratory behavior that is present in animals of many different species such as apes, dogs, cats, and even rodents. Curiosity initiates the process of exploring, learning and the desire to acquire information and skill. Over the millennia curiosity has led to the acquisition of knowledge and has been the driving force behind advances in science and industry, as well as in the appreciation and relevance of visual art.

Interest: The above initial experiences harvested my interest in colorful painted images and sculptures. Once curiosity was aroused, it fostered interest in pursuing rewarding and pleasurable art stimuli. Gratifying experiences lead to the continuous reinforcement of the behavior and actions that hearten emotional sensations of pleasure, and satisfaction. These initial stages grew and matured, and have endured for decades. Interest in art was sustained in conjunction with my professional devotion to medicine and nutritional sciences and my very busy practice as an academic pediatric endocrinologist.

Passion: The experiences that harvested my interest in visual art became a passion that marked my life. My desire to acquire art solely reflected my passion and personal taste. I did not approach the acquisition of art as an investment nor as an opportunity for potential financial return. The decision to purchase the art was based on my perception of the piece, its affordability and the excitement to acquire the art and relish it long-term.

Dan Fear said, Buy art because you like it and because it moves you, and because it enhances your life.

Every new acquisition broadened my wife Jere’s and my horizons and enriched and embellished our modus vivendi. It triggered a fully long-lasting gratifying experience: The Art of Living with Art.

Expertise: My career allowed me to be exposed to multiple varieties of art, created by numerous artists of different cultures throughout the world. I was often invited to lecture in my medical field of expertise, this provided an opportunity to view the local art in museums, galleries and in the studios of artists in countless countries. Each acquisition was a validation of a keen eye and personal taste. The art collection progressed and became quite varied. The art procurement was slowly refined and it yielded some degree of expertise. This enhanced my abilities to acquire better and higher quality art, as finances and opportunities permitted. Building a collection was incidental to the personal enjoyment of obtaining the pieces and bringing them into my home. Collecting art was a journey accompanied by befriending fascinating creators of beauty; it has been a mesmerizing experience. Winslow Homer said it:

Travel widely, experiment boldly, love deeply.

Sharing: As Professor of Pediatrics, teaching was a regular activity throughout my academic career. Sharing my art knowledge was more slowly dispensed. I was frequently asked to explain and talk to friends about the art in my home and office. Every single piece of art had an accompanying story to tell and I was able to enrich others with the story of a painting or sculpture. Later, there were also opportunities to talk to small groups. However, sharing my knowledge of African art was principally highlighted through the publication of my book, An African Journey through its Art.

Divesting: Later in life, after retiring from medicine, we decided it was time to downsize to a smaller place to live. This necessitated separation from much of my beloved art. This was not an experience that we were prepared to confront. Acquiring art is far more pleasant than divesting, but downsizing is a necessary process in the cycle of life. It is more desirable to downsize during life – with a warm hand as my father would say – than to leave it to others to handle upon your demise.

Building a collection brought decades of great personal enjoyment, though it was not associated with preparation of the essentials to divest. I regret not keeping a more detailed catalog that captured important specifics about the pieces collected. Details of potential importance were often not kept nor safeguarded. Dealing with this lack of documentation, at times became an onerous exercise.

It is time consuming to find a suitable home for divested art treasures. Gifting art to your dear ones is not always welcome, as tastes and preferences do not always coincide, notwithstanding the lack of space to display or desire to take care of the art. Selling, consignments and auctioning art are challenging undertakings Nonetheless, selling privately can be a rewarding way to disperse parts of the collection because new owners will now have the opportunity to live with and enjoy the art. Moreover, you may continue to appreciate the art in its new home, when visiting with the new owners.

Donating art to museums and non-profit charitable organizations has been another way to downsize. The majority of art in a museum’s collection rarely receives visibility or exposure to visitors; most museums are only able to display a small fraction of their collections. That said, creators of the art may obtain recognition and appreciation of their abilities when their art is accepted by a museum. Gifting an entire collection to one place may create a lasting legacy for the collector’s life’s passion. However, museums have requirements regarding what they accept and what fits within their collections. Additionally, even when curators do their best to exhibit the donated pieces, their limited display space, exhibition schedules, curatorial changes and multiple other factors often preclude exhibiting the art.

Most museums keep the art that has been donated to