We visited the Bet Reuven Art Museum in Tel Aviv. The museum used to be the home of painter Reuven Ruben who was born in Romania and moved to Israel to attend the Bezalel art school in 1912. He completed his first painting in Israel in 1922.
Ruben’s general style could be considered “naïve” painting. As time went on, his style changed. His first painting was a self- portrait with Israel in the background. He held paintbrushes in the picture, as if he were in Israel for the sole purpose of working and painting. In a later painting, he is in a room with his wife. The picture seemed to signify a more settled time in his life. In one of his last paintings he depicted himself painting a dove and olive branch.
Ruben’s evolving painting styles seem to symbolize his attitudes toward his work and life. His art has had a huge influence on Israeli culture.