Baruch Barkai 1910-2004

Born in Riga Latvia, Barkai's love of art began at age 13 when he requested a painting for his Bar Mitzvah gift. Throughout his life, he collected historical documents, archaeological artifacts and antique furniture. Baruch Barkai settled in Israel in 1932 and became a friend of the nation's pioneer artists, including Boris Shatz, Reuven Rubin, Mane Katz, Moshe Castel, Yosef Zaritsky and Ya'akov Steinhart. During his long years Barkai also befriended such internationally known as Salvador Dali and Marc Chagall.

This catalog is dedicated in his memory.

Itamar Barkai

"I was born into a house of art," says Itamar Barkai, who founded the Arta Gallery in Jerusalem in 1973 and has served as its president ever since. Arta, Israel's largest private art gallery, was', built on the foundation of the extensive collection of Israeli artwork amassed by Barkai's father, Baruch, beginning with his arrival in Israel in 1932.

Today, an unprecedented initiative by Arta is enabling collectors and connoisseurs around the world to possess and enjoy the exceptional works of Chagall, Magritte, Dufy, Modigliani, Monet and Munch in their own 'houses of art.' By exclusive agreements with the estates of these masters, Arta is issuing limited-edition, numbered lithographs and serigraphs representing the artists' unparalleled works, many of which have never been produced in this manner before.
In the early 1990's, the Arta Gallery obtained the exclusive rights to produce lithographs of the Chagall Windows designs based on the Twelve Tribes of Israel paintings, as well as a number of other works that had never been printed in Chagall's lifetime. With the approval of the Chagall estate, Arta issued first edition lithographs of 20 paintings. The 21-color prints, produced by master lithographer Mourlot of Paris on fine 290 gram Velin paper manufactured by Papier d'Arches, each bear the official seal of the Chagall estate as well as Mourlot's signature of authenticity.

33 Years of Artistic Achievement

The Arta Gallery, established by ltamar Barkai In 1973. was originally situated in central Jerusalem on Rabbi Akiva Street In

1986 the Gallery relocated to its present location on King David Street, adjacent to the King David Hotel and David's Citadel. An

Arta branch is located in the Inbal Hotel, near the Liberty Bell Garden.

The, employees of the Arta Gallery, most of whom have accompanied the gallery from its early years, maintain Arta, high standards and excellent customer service. Ms. Pascale Peretz serves as the associate director

The Arta Gallery has been a frequent winner of the "Jerusalem Chosen Business Award" in the field of art.

A World Class Standard of Quality

The superior quality of the Chagall lithographs and their enthusiastic reception in the art world propelled Aria into contracts with the estates of other 2oth-century artists for producing limited series of prints. To date, Arta has Issued serigraphs of previously un reproduced paintings by Magritte, Dufy, Modigliani and Monet No artist's or printer's proofs are produced and the plates are not re-used, Thus, when a limited edition is completed – always slightly larger or smaller in size than the original painting – prints of that size will never be issued again, Every lithograph and serigraph is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

With the closing of the Mourlot studio in Paris, lithograph production has been relocated to Tete-a-Tete in Paris, while serigraphs are now produced at the Ketem Meshi workshop in Israel, under the expert direction of master graveur Yitzhak Schwartz, There, Arta is currently producing 47 color serigraphs of six works by Modlgllani and Munch.

Agreements for exclusive rights have been signed with the estates of the following artists:

Amedeo Modigliani

Claude Monet

Kariel Gardos ("Dosh")

Marc Chagall
Nahum Gutman
Raoul Dufy
Rene Magritte
Shalom of Safed

Exclusive Professional Liaisons:

Mourlot Studio, Paris – Printing of lithographs
Tete-a-Tete Studio, Paris – Printing of lithographs Menachem Berman – Designer
Yoav Pur – Printer
Ketem Meshi, Israel – Print workshop
Avner Agayof – Metal manufacturer