Artwork
Chaim
Chaim is a print by Leon Kossoff. It dates from 1988 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
He often reworked his etchings over and over, testing new versions even after printing.
Leon Kossoff’s *Chaim* is a print from the late 1980s by a British figurative artist. It shows how he used printmaking to explore his love for line and texture.
Like many of his peers, Kossoff saw prints as a way to dig deeper. He often reworked his etchings over and over, testing new versions even after printing.
His 1998 etchings after old masters prove he didn’t just copy—he studied.
Look up artist Kossoff, Leon.
Overview
Chaim is a late 1980s etching by British figurative artist Leon Kossoff, featuring a portrait of his brother. The work exemplifies Kossoff's exploration of line and texture through printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait of Chaim, the artist's brother, serves as a subject for Kossoff's investigation into the expressive potential of line and texture, characteristic of his figurative approach.
Technique & Style
Kossoff's etching technique in Chaim highlights his preoccupation with draughtsmanship, evident in the manipulation of lines. Multiple proof states, often reworked even after initial printing, demonstrate his meticulous pursuit of perfection.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1980s, Chaim was developed in collaboration with artist Ann Dowker and later printed and editioned by Marc Balakjian of Studio Prints. While part of Kossoff's broader printmaking practice, it predates his 1998 Old Masters etching series.
Context
Chaim reflects Kossoff's alignment with contemporaries like Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud, who also approached printmaking as an extension of their draughtsmanship. Unlike his later Old Masters series, Chaim focuses on personal subject matter.
Legacy
Through Chaim, Kossoff contributes to the tradition of figurative printmaking, showcasing how the medium can intensify the artist's exploration of line and form. His rigorous approach to proofing and reworking etchings sets a standard for meticulous craft in printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leon Kossoff (10 December 1926 – 4 July 2019) was a British figurative painter known for portraits, life drawings and cityscapes of London, England.
