Street scene at the market in small town Kovel/ now Ukrainian Wolynia province on the board to Poland. At this time was Kovel in Russian Empire.
The painting was executed by unknown artist, probably, an Austrian or German, signed illegibly and dated 1917, also during German occupation of Kovel in WWI.
Jewish residents made up about 50% of the population of Kovel at that time, and the painter placed several Jewish merchants in his painting, so the painting is a historic document of Jewish life in Kovel before, that thousands of them were killed by Nazis during WWII.
In 1921 Kovel belonged to Poland, from 1939 to 1944 was transferred to Nazi Germany under the Molotov/ Ribbentrop Pact, and since 1944, after the renewed annexation of eastern Poland by the Soviet Union, Kovel belonged to the Ukrainian SSR and thus to independent Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Inscription: titled in German: Market in Kovel, dated 1917 and signed illegible.
Technique: oil on cardboard. Original period gilt frame.
Measurements: unframed w 14 1/2" x h 10 2/3" (37 x 27 cm), framed w 19 7/8" x h 16 1/4" (50,5 x 41,3 cm).
Condition: in very good condition |