Hanna BEN-DOV (1919–2009) Calligraphic Composition Circa 1960

Original ink on heavy paper, original studio backing

This original ink drawing on paper is an intimate work of remarkable graphic power by Hanna Ben-Dov, a major figure of the Second School of Paris and Lyrical Abstraction.
Executed with a lively, instinctive, and almost calligraphic gesture, the composition testifies to the artist's absolute mastery of black, line, and void during the 1960s. The original drawing is beautifully showcased on its vintage cardboard backing, selected, cut, and highlighted with a hand-drawn black border by the artist herself, serving as a genuine original studio mount. A unique piece of great modernity, ideal for adorning a sophisticated contemporary interior or enriching the collection of a postwar art enthusiast.

Historical Context: The Zen Impulse of the Second School of Paris

Settling in Paris in the late 1940s, Hanna Ben-Dov immediately immersed herself in the capital's avant-garde. Close to Constantin Brancusi, she was fully part of the New School of Paris movement, rubbing shoulders with major artists of her generation such as Joan Mitchell, Jean Degottex, and Zao Wou-Ki. Her ink works from the 1960s mark the pinnacle of her quest to capture pure movement and silence, heavily influenced by the spirit of Zen Buddhism and the art of Oriental line.

The POPINCOURT Gallery’s Opinion

At first glance, these powerful black motifs evoke a mysterious ideogram. Through these suspended forms, the artist does not seek to draw reality, but to capture the essence of a movement, a dramatic tension between the ink-black and the void of the white paper.
Behind the scenes: The reverse of this work fascinatingly reveals the creative process. Always guided by poetry, Hanna Ben-Dov cut her presentation backing from a vintage typographic proof containing fragments of text ("Pour Hélène, alléluia ! Pour Cadix et sa nasse de nymphes..."). This studio backing also bears the official stamp of the Labeaume Town Hall (Ardèche), the picturesque village where the artist had her studio. A historical marking that guarantees direct provenance from the artist's estate.

Information

Artist: Hanna Ben-Dov (1919–2009)
Title: Calligraphic Composition
Provenance: Artist's studio estate / Institutional collection (Official stamp of the Labeaume Town Hall on the reverse).
Period: Circa 1960
Technique: Original ink on heavy art paper
Dimensions of the artwork alone: 20.5 × 19 cm
Total dimensions (with original backing): 30.5 × 28 cm
Signature: Signed “Ben Dov” in fine ink at the top right on the original presentation backing
Unique vintage mount: Original drawing fixed to its studio art backing cut by the artist, adorned with a hand-drawn black border (integral to the work).
Condition: Very good overall condition. A slight natural vintage crease is visible along the bottom edge of the backing, testifying to the authenticity of its handling by the artist in the studio, with no impact on the central composition.

Shipment Contents

Hanna Ben Dov Calligraphic Composition 1960
Certificate of Authenticity