DAVID, JEAN

DAVID, JEAN, Israeli painter. David was born in Bucharest and studied in France. In 1927 he studied art at the Beaux Art institution at Paris and in 1930 he took advanced studies at the Grande Chaumière Academy and André Lot Academy in Paris. In 1942 he escaped to Palestine on a small schooner. He served with the British Royal Navy from 1944 to 1947 and with the Israel Navy from 1949 to 1950. During the latter period he also served as adviser on industrial design to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In 1954 he was one of the founders of the Ein Hod artists' village in the north of Israel. He decorated walls in the Israel pavilion at the Brussels Exhibition of 1958 and at the Canadian Expo 1967. He represented Israel at various international exhibitions. His posters, especially those executed for the Government Tourist Office, earned him an international reputation as a graphic artist. David painted murals on the passenger ships of the Israel merchant marine. He also designed jewelry and enamels. Characteristic of David's painting is a lively sense of humor, a decorative use of color, an allusive use of ancient symbolism, and a deep feeling for the life of the sea derived from his experience as a sailor. In 1960 David received the Dizengoff Prize.