Note: Works by Grobman belong to the artist’s collection unless stated otherwise.
Figures in the Text
1 Michail Grobman at home with his wife Irina Vrubel-Golubkina. Moscow, 1966. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 3
2 Michail Grobman with his works at the first exhibition of the Leviathan group. Uri and Rami Nechushtan Museum (Kibbutz Ashdoth Yaakov), 1978. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 3
3 Natalia Goncharova, Angels and Airplanes. 1914. Lithograph; 18.2 × 14.2 cm. From the series Mystical Images of War. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 7
4 Lyubov Popova, Abstract Composition. 1921. Crayon, watercolor, and collage; 22.7 × 13.3 cm. Used on the cover of the exhibition catalogue 5x5=25. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 7
5 El Lissitzky, cover of On New Systems in Art by Kazimir Malevich. 1919. Lithograph 22 × 19 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 8
6 Michail Grobman with art historians, artists, and critics from Czechoslovakia. 1969. Left to right: Miroslav Klivar, Jiří Padrta, Michail Grobman, Miroslav Lamač, Jan Ságl, Karel Kuklik. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 10
7 The artists of the Lianozovo group showing their works to the critic Michel Ragon (as he was conducted by the artist Lev Nussberg through Moscow underground art studios). 1971. Right to left: Valentina Kropivnitsky, Oscar Rabin, Lev Nussberg, Evgeny Kropivnitsky, Michel Ragon, Françoise Ragon. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 18
8 Michel Ragon in Vladimir Yankilevsky’s studio. March 1971. Right to left: Vladimir Yankilevsky, Lev Nussberg, Michel Ragon. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 18
9 Michel Ragon at the home of Michail Grobman. Right to left: Irina Vrubel-Golubkina, Lev Nussberg, Michail Grobman, Michel Ragon, Alexander Grigoriev, Françoise Ragon. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 19
10 Dust jacket of the exhibition catalogue Cubism and Abstract Art (New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1936), featuring a diagram of the origins and evolution of modern art by the curator Alfred Barr Jr. 22
11 Vladimir Yakovlev, The Red Flower. 1960. Gouache and pastel crayons on paper; 42 × 30 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 32
12 Ülo Sooster, Moonlight Junipers. 1967–1968. Mixed technique on plywood; 44 × 78 cm. Ekaterina and Vladimir Semenikhin collection (Moscow) 32
13 Vladimir Piatnitsky. Portrait of a Girl. 1961. Gouache on cardboard; 50 × 35 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 33
14 Vladimir Veisberg, Portrait of Ira Vrubel-Golubkina. 1961. Oil on canvas; 72 × 51 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 33
15 Vladimir Yankilevsky, A Small Triptych. 1963. Oil pastels on paper mounted on cardboard; 47 × 141.5 cm. Ekaterina and Vladimir Semenikhin collection (Moscow) 34
16 Oscar Rabin, Garbage Pile № 8. 1958. Tempera on canvas; 81 × 90. Tsukanov Family Foundation (London) 34
17 Preparing for the exhibition Favorite Artists of Khlebnikov, curated by Nikolai Khardzhiev. Mayakovsky Museum (Moscow), 1965. Left to right: on floor – Rudolf Duganov, Michail Grobman; seated: unidentified museum employee, A. Efmova, Gennady Aigi, Irena Vrubel-Golubkina, unidentified individual, Nikolai Khardzhiev, museum director Agnia Yeserskaya [?]. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 39
18 Lev Nussberg, Cybertheater, 1966. Photograph. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 44
19 Ilya Kabakov, In the Closet. Sheet from the series Sitting-in-the-Closet Primakov, Album 1: Ten Characters (1971–1974). India ink and colored pencil on paper, 51.5 × 35 cm. Musée National d’Art Moderne (Paris) 44
20 Evgeny Kropivnitsky, Abstract Composition. 1964. Monotype on paper; 35 × 24 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 47
21 Vladimir Yakovlev, Abstract Composition. 1959. Oil pastel on paper; 42 × 29.5 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 50
22 Michail Grobman, Portrait of Vladimir Yakovlev. 1968. Oil and charcoal on paper; 28.4 × 22 cm 51
23 Unknown artist, Leviathan. 1895. Ceiling painting in the synagogue in Pakruojis, Photograph by Chackelis Lemchenas (1 May 1938). Aušros Museum, Šiauliai 53
24 Solomon Yudovin, Old Vitebsk. 1925. From the series Byloe (The Past). Woodcut; 12 × 15.5 cm. Private collection (Jerusalem) 61
25 Nathan Altman, Shish. 1913. Lithograph; 17.6 × 11.5 cm. From Alexei Kruchyonykh, Explosion (St. Petersburg: [Yeuyi], 1913); Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 62
26 Barnett Newman, Onement I. 1948. Oil on canvas and oil on masking tape on canvas; 69.2 × 41.2 cm. Museum of Modern Art (New York) 74
27 Ilya Kabakov, cover of Osia i ego druz’ia (Osia and his Friends) by Boris Olevsky (Moscow: Detgiz, 1956). Ildar Galeev collection (Moscow) 90
28 Catalogue of the personal exhibition of Michail Grobman in the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art. Tel Aviv Museum, 1971 111
29 Opening of the personal exhibition of Michail Grobman in the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art. Tel Aviv Museum, 1971. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 112
30 Alexander Rodchenko, Line. 1921. Red pencil on paper; 19.2 × 14.1 cm. Drawing for the exhibition catalogue 5x5=25. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 121
31 Michail Grobman, The Practice of Magical Symbolism: Labyrinth, Chamber #2. India ink on cardboard; 50 × 70 cm 122
32 Michail Grobman, Leviathan no. 1. Layout for printing of the lithograph newsletter. India ink, paper, cardboard; 70 × 50 cm 125
33 Kazimir Malevich, On New Systems in Art. 1919. Lithograph print. 23 × 18.5 cm. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 131
34 Unknown artist, Jewish amulet for a newborn and his mother. Jerusalem, early 20th century. Woodcut. Museum of Jewish History in Russia (Moscow) 133
35 Avraham Ofek, Jacob’s Deed. 1978. Photo: Collection Thelma Ofek, Jerusalem 141
36 Shmuel Ackerman, Scroll. 1979. Photo: Collection of the artist, Paris 141
37 Catalogue of the first exhibition of the Leviathan group. Uri and Rami Nechushtan Museum (Kibbutz Ashdoth Yaakov), 1978 143
38 Second exhibition of the Leviathan group. Jerusalem Artists’ House, 1979 144
39 Michail Grobman, Khlebnikov 100 (performance). Tel Aviv, 9 Nov. 1985. Photograph by Lev Borodulin 152
40 Michail Grobman, Messiah (performance). Jerusalem, 20 May 1987. Photograph by Lev Borodulin 152
41 Michail Grobman, Messiah (street installation). Jerusalem, 20 May 1987. Photograph by Ilya Zundelevich 165
Plates
1 Michail Grobman, Anarchists. 1959. Monotype on paper; 28.9 × 27 cm 238
2 Michail Grobman, Dance. 1959. Monotype on paper; 26 × 18 cm 238
3 Michail Grobman, Portrait of a Jew. 1960. Watercolor and gouache on paper; 53 × 46.7 cm 239
4 Michail Grobman, Still-life. 1962. Gouache on cardboard; 62 × 48 cm 240
5 Michail Grobman, Still-life – Signboard. 1962. Gouache on plywood; 60 × 60 cm. State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg) 241
6 Michail Grobman, Memorial. 1966. Paper, collage; 59.7 × 41.8 cm 242
7 Michail Grobman, The Fall, 1. 1962. Monotype, oil pastel on paper; 42.3 × 53 cm 243
8 Michail Grobman, Midsummer Night’s Dream. 1962. Monotype on paper; 42 × 52.7 cm 244
9 Michail Grobman, At the Very Edge of the World, 2. 1963. Monotype on paper; 42.3 × 53 cm 245
10 Michail Grobman, Tomb of an Israeli Soldier. 1963. Monotype and oil pastel on paper; 42.3 × 53 cm 246
11 Michail Grobman, Oriental Landscape [Jerusalem?]. 1962. Gouache on cardboard; 55 × 70 cm 247
12 Michail Grobman, Lukomorie. 1964. Gouache on cardboard; 40 × 30 cm 248
13 Michail Grobman, Stesin’s Butterfly. 1966. Tempera on cardboard; 47 × 62.3 cm. Museum Ludwig (Cologne) 249
14 Michail Grobman, Metamorphoses. 1968. Tempera on cardboard; 48.5 × 32 cm 250
15 Michail Grobman, Fire. 1968. Watercolor and aluminum paint on paper; 42 × 59.3 cm 251
16 Michail Grobman, Creation of the World, 2. 1969. Watercolor on paper; 64 × 64 cm 252
17 Michail Grobman, White Twig and Green Square. 1962. Gouache on plywood; 27 × 27 cm 253
18 Michail Grobman, Black Square. 1959. Monotype on paper; 23 × 15.5 cm 254
19 Michail Grobman, Black Rectangle. 1965. Collage on silver paper; 44.5 × 32.4 cm 255
20 Michail Grobman, Menorah and Square with Triangle. 1962. India ink on printed book page; 14 × 29.9 cm 256
21 Michail Grobman, Porcelain Man. 1965. Tempera and gouache on cardboard; 54.5 × 45 cm. Tel Aviv Museum of Art 257
22 Michail Grobman, Leviathan. 1964. Tempera on cardboard; 50 × 70 cm. Tel Aviv Museum of Art 258
23 Michail Grobman, Black Sun. 1967. Tempera on cardboard; 40 × 30 cm. Tel Aviv Museum of Art 259
24 Michail Grobman, Destruction of Jerusalem. 1970. Watercolor on paper; 58.7 × 42 cm 260
25 Michail Grobman, Four works; clockwise from upper left: Man-fish over the Desert, Fish over Town, Death over the Countryside, Serpent-King [a Leviathan?]. 1963. India ink on stamped envelopes; 11.1 × 15.8 each 261
26 Michail Grobman, Generalissimo. Collage and India ink on paper; 60 × 45 cm. Museum Ludwig (Cologne) 262
27 Michail Grobman, Image of the Mediterranean Sea. 1973. Oil on canvas; 65
28 Michail Grobman, Poem about Myself. 1973. Collage on cardboard; 50
29 Michail Grobman, Poem about a Perpetual Voyage. 1973. Collage on cardboard; 50
30 Michail Grobman, Self-portrait: “My Father’s Book.” 1976. Linotype; 30.5 × 25.5 cm 266
31 Michail Grobman, Self-portrait: “Pogrom.” 1976. Linotype; 30.5 × 25.5 cm 267
32 Michail Grobman, Stone. 1975. Acrylic on stone; 32 × 25 × 11 cm 268
33 Michail Grobman, Of Wood. 1975. Acrylic on wood; 7.5 × 123 × 7.5 cm 269
34 Michail Grobman, Rabbi Yehudah’s Prayer. 1978. Silkscreen on paper; 98 × 50 cm 270
35 Michail Grobman, Morning Prayer. 1978. Silkscreen on paper; 81 × 68 cm 271
36 Michail Grobman, Heaven’s Gate. 1977. Acrylic on canvas; 81 × 60 cm 272
37 Michail Grobman, Earth. 1977. Acrylic on canvas; 81 × 65 cm 273
38 Michail Grobman, Word. 1978. Acrylic on plywood; 173 × 57 cm 274
39 Michail Grobman, Jerusalem Construction. 1978. Acrylic on plywood; 172.5 × 57 cm 275
40 Michail Grobman, Alef–Adamah (Alef–Earth). 1978. Acrylic on plywood; 149.5 × 53 cm 276
41 Michail Grobman, Satan. 1980. Acrylic on canvas; 200 × 146 cm. State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg) 277
42 Michail Grobman, Kaddish. 1995. (Artist’s replica of the 1977 original.) Acrylic on canvas; 64.7 × 80.6 cm 278
43 Michail Grobman, Counter-relief (sketch for environmental project). 1977. India ink and acrylic on paper; 60 × 70 cm 279
44 Michail Grobman, Souls (sketch for environmental project). 1977. India ink and gouache on paper; 50 × 70 cm 280
45 Michail Grobman, Shin. 1978. From the series The Angel of Death, 1. Photo: Grobman archive; 50 × 67 cm 281
46 Michail Grobman, Traces. 1978. From the series The Angel of Death, 1. Photo: Grobman archive; 50
47 Michail Grobman, Poem. 1978. From the series The Angel of Death, 1. Photo: Grobman archive; 50
48 Michail Grobman, Desert. 1978. From the series The Angel of Death, 1. Photo: Grobman archive; 50 × 67 cm 284
49 Michail Grobman, The Angel of Death, 3. 1978. Photo: Grobman archive; 50 × 67 cm 285
50 Michail Grobman, The Angel of Death, 2. 1978. Photo: Grobman archive; 67 × 50 cm 286
51 Michail Grobman, The Angel of Death, 2. 1978. Photo: Grobman archive; 67 × 50 cm 287
52 Michail Grobman, Landscape in the Sinai Mountains. 1979. Tempera on paper; 35 × 50 cm 288
53 Michail Grobman, I – service number…. 1981. From the series Angel of Death, 6. 1981. Photo: Grobman archive, 50 × 67 cm 289
54 Michail Grobman, Jewish People’s Spring. 1982. India ink and gouache on printed reproduction; 23.4 × 28 cm 290
55 Michail Grobman, Earth (visual poem). 1980. Collage on paper; 50 × 35 cm 291
56 Michail Grobman, Khvan Cher on Duty, by Alexander Chakovsky (visual poem). 1980. India ink on printed book cover; 21 × 13.5 cm 292
57 Michail Grobman, Tomb of Michail Grobman on Mickiewicz St. in Warsaw. 1981. India ink and colored pencil on printed illustration; 21 × 14 cm 293
58 Michail Grobman, Tomb of Michail Grobman on Strauss St. in Vienna. 1981. India ink and colored pencil on printed illustration; 21 × 14 cm 294
59 Michail Grobman, Victory of Spirit over Body. 1993. Gouache on paper; 70 × 100 cm 295
60 Michail Grobman, Russian Conversations. 1992. Gouache on paper; 100 × 70 cm 296
61 Michail Grobman, Bonjour, Comrade Levitan! 1992. Gouache on paper; 100.5 × 70.54 cm 297
62 Michail Grobman. The End of Art. 1994. Oil on canvas; 195 × 195. Victor Novichkov collection (Moscow) 298
63 Michail Grobman, Masada. 2004. Collage; 30.6 × 22.3 cm 299
64 Michail Grobman, Conception. 2004. Collage; 30.6 × 22.3 cm 300
65 Michail Grobman, Will We Bury? Or? 2011. From the series Diary of a Man in the Land of Antipodes. Oil on cardboard; 23.4 × 14.9 cm 301
66 Michail Grobman, Food has Come Crawling. 2001. From the series Diary of a Man in the Land of Antipodes. Oil on cardboard; 25 × 14.9 cm 302
67 Michail Grobman, Katyn. 2009. From the series Diary of a Man in the Land of Antipodes. Oil on cardboard and leather. 25.3 × 15.4 cm 303
68 Part of the Leviathan group’s installation at the Abattoires 89 International Festival of Artistic Groups (Marseille), which was dedicated to the bicentennial of the French Revolution. Michail Grobman collection (Tel Aviv) 304