Moshe Elazar Castel (1909-1991/92) Israeli, Lithograph. Signed in lower right. Numbered in lower left. 7/25. 

Depicts green tablet with black writing on the pieces. 

HC signed in lower left. HC stands for Hors d'Commerce proof. It means the print was destined for promotional use, most commonly as a sample for galleries or dealers. 

Condition: Frame coming apart. Paper torn in back. 

Overall Size: 35 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. 

Sight Size: 28 1/2 x 20 1/2 in. 

Biography from Tiroche Auction House: 

Moshe Castel was born in Jerusalem in 1909 to a religious family from Castile. He studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design and later in France. Castel's works were exhibited in important salons in Paris, London, and Warsaw. He returned to Israel in 1933 and lived in Tel Aviv before moving to Safed. Castel founded the group Ofakim Hadashim, which embraced the foundations of abstract European art. He added oriental motifs to the abstract expressive style, influenced by what he called "Canaanite art". Castel's later works include elements such as the ancient letters of the Hebrew alphabet and are dealing with national and root themes and biblical stories combined with marks of archaic script. Castel's art aspires from Jewish sources on the one hand, and on the other hand is based on in-depth knowledge of world culture. Castel participated in various exhibitions in Israel and around the world, including the Venice Biennial and the San Paolo Biennial in Brazil in which he won an award. His murals and reliefs can be found in many places in Israel and around the world.

#2539 #108 

Frame coming apart. Paper torn in back.