Dora Holzhandler

Dora Holzhandler (22 March 1928 – 8 October 2015) was a French-born British painter based in London.[1]

Biography

Dora Holzhandler was born to Jewish-Polish parents (Sehia Holzhandler, handbag maker and Ruchla Rocheman a singer and seamstress)[2] in Paris, France, and came to live in London when she was six years old.[3]

In 1941 she moved to Suffolk with her mother and attended the West Suffolk County School in Bury St Edmunds.[4]

She painted in the naive style, influenced by Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse.[3] Her work often incorporates repeated iconography, mystical and religious symbolism influenced by her personal beliefs. She was discovered by artist Victor Pasmore in 1947 and had her first exhibition in 1954.[5]

Her paintings are on display in the Museum of Modern Art in Glasgow and the Jewish Museum London.[2][6]

Holzhandler befriended violinist Nigel Kennedy in 2012 after inviting him to a gallery private view, later painting his portrait.[2]

Personal life

Holzhandler lived in London with her husband George Swinford, whom she married in 1950 after meeting at London's Anglo-French Art Centre.[1]

She developed a dual belief in the Jewish and Buddhist faiths.[5] She died on 8 October 2015 at the age of 87.[7]

References
  • Vann, Philip. Dora Holzhandler. Penguin. ISBN 0-87951-812-X.

Footnotes
  1. Philip Vann (24 March 2011). "Mystical appeal of Dora the primitive". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  2. Adam Jacques (14 April 2013). "How We Met: Dora Holzhandler and Nigel Kennedy". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  3. Tiffany Daneff (23 November 2012). "Dora Holzhandler: taking it easely". Saga Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  4. "Dora Holzhandler Catalogue 2011". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  5. Adam Jacques (7 December 2006). "Outside In or Inside Out Dora Holzhandler - A Retrospective". ArtDaily.org. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  6. 13 paintings by or after Dora Holzhandler, Art UK. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  7. "Dora Holzhandler, artist - obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. 30 October 2015.
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