This original 9x12 ink caricature attributed to Yossi Stern captures a refined woman holding opera glasses, rendered with Stern’s expressive, humorous, and minimalist contour line. Best known as “The Painter of Jerusalem,” Stern blended Hungarian academic training with Israeli modernist expression to create unforgettable figurative works.
The drawing’s lively personality, exaggerated profile, and expertly balanced linework reflect Stern’s mastery of character illustration. Acquired in New York City and stylistically consistent with known mid-century Stern figure sketches, this work is offered by Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
Title: Woman with Opera Glasses (Untitled Line Drawing)
Artist: Yossi Stern (1923–1992) — Attributed
Medium: Pen & Ink on Paper
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Acquired: New York City
Signature: Unsigned
Period: Mid–Late 20th Century
Style: Modernist Caricature • Minimalist Line Drawing • Israeli Figurative Humor
This 9x12 pen-and-ink caricature of an elegantly dressed woman — complete with jewelry, coiffed hair, and opera glasses raised delicately in her right hand — is a beautifully humorous example of the style and sensibility associated with Yossi Stern’s figurative work.
Rendered with Stern’s hallmark swift, dynamic contour drawing, the figure is made up of a series of economical, flowing strokes. The expressive profile, exaggerated features, and delicate caricature evoke the influence of Central European humor and modernist line traditions that shaped Stern’s artistic voice.
The woman’s accessories — dangling earrings, a pearl bracelet, decorative collar, bold ring, and the elegant handle of her opera glasses — are indicated with only a few lines, yet convey a rich sense of character. This combination of refinement and wit is emblematic of Stern’s gift for capturing personality with minimal description.
This drawing likely originates from Stern’s figurative sketch sessions and humorous character studies, which he produced consistently from the 1940s through the 1970s. Such whimsical social characters appear throughout his notebooks and editorial illustrations.
(Included for collector documentation)
Yossi Stern was born in Debrecen, Hungary, in 1923. A gifted draftsman, he studied at the Debrecen Academy of Artbefore fleeing Europe at the age of 17 and immigrating alone to Jerusalem in 1940.
There he became one of the most iconic illustrators in Israeli art history, known for his expressive line drawings, caricatures, reportage sketches, and portraits.
Served as official IDF war artist during the 1948 War of Independence
Prolific illustrator for newspapers, magazines, and books
Documenter of Jerusalem’s people, daily life, and culture
Exhibited at major institutions including:
Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Bezalel Academy exhibitions
Numerous international Jewish cultural centers
European modernist caricature
Expressionist linework
Minimalist gesture drawing
A humanistic, observant approach to character
His ability to build personality and narrative from only a handful of lines earned him international recognition and the affectionate title “The Painter of Jerusalem.”
Yossi Stern (1923–1992) — Attributed
Woman with Opera Glasses
Pen & Ink on Paper, 9 x 12 in.
Unsigned; acquired NYC.
Charming mid-century pen-and-ink caricature of a refined woman, characteristic of Stern’s expressive line style.
Artist: Yossi Stern (1923–1992) — Attributed
Title: Woman with Opera Glasses (Untitled Line Drawing)
Medium: Pen & Ink on Paper
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Date: Mid–Late 20th Century
Signature: Unsigned
Origin: Acquired in New York City
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Authentication Notes:
This artwork is unsigned but attributed to Yossi Stern on the basis of:
Strong stylistic alignment with Stern’s caricature and figure drawings
Identical contour line characteristics found in authenticated Stern sketches
Provenance consistent with NYC dispersals of Stern-related works
Private Collection, New York City
Secondary Market, NYC
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC — Present Owner
This original 9x12 ink caricature attributed to Yossi Stern captures a refined woman holding opera glasses, rendered with Stern’s expressive, humorous, and minimalist contour line. Best known as “The Painter of Jerusalem,” Stern blended Hungarian academic training with Israeli modernist expression to create unforgettable figurative works.
The drawing’s lively personality, exaggerated profile, and expertly balanced linework reflect Stern’s mastery of character illustration. Acquired in New York City and stylistically consistent with known mid-century Stern figure sketches, this work is offered by Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
Title: Woman with Opera Glasses (Untitled Line Drawing)
Artist: Yossi Stern (1923–1992) — Attributed
Medium: Pen & Ink on Paper
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Acquired: New York City
Signature: Unsigned
Period: Mid–Late 20th Century
Style: Modernist Caricature • Minimalist Line Drawing • Israeli Figurative Humor
This 9x12 pen-and-ink caricature of an elegantly dressed woman — complete with jewelry, coiffed hair, and opera glasses raised delicately in her right hand — is a beautifully humorous example of the style and sensibility associated with Yossi Stern’s figurative work.
Rendered with Stern’s hallmark swift, dynamic contour drawing, the figure is made up of a series of economical, flowing strokes. The expressive profile, exaggerated features, and delicate caricature evoke the influence of Central European humor and modernist line traditions that shaped Stern’s artistic voice.
The woman’s accessories — dangling earrings, a pearl bracelet, decorative collar, bold ring, and the elegant handle of her opera glasses — are indicated with only a few lines, yet convey a rich sense of character. This combination of refinement and wit is emblematic of Stern’s gift for capturing personality with minimal description.
This drawing likely originates from Stern’s figurative sketch sessions and humorous character studies, which he produced consistently from the 1940s through the 1970s. Such whimsical social characters appear throughout his notebooks and editorial illustrations.
(Included for collector documentation)
Yossi Stern was born in Debrecen, Hungary, in 1923. A gifted draftsman, he studied at the Debrecen Academy of Artbefore fleeing Europe at the age of 17 and immigrating alone to Jerusalem in 1940.
There he became one of the most iconic illustrators in Israeli art history, known for his expressive line drawings, caricatures, reportage sketches, and portraits.
Served as official IDF war artist during the 1948 War of Independence
Prolific illustrator for newspapers, magazines, and books
Documenter of Jerusalem’s people, daily life, and culture
Exhibited at major institutions including:
Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Bezalel Academy exhibitions
Numerous international Jewish cultural centers
European modernist caricature
Expressionist linework
Minimalist gesture drawing
A humanistic, observant approach to character
His ability to build personality and narrative from only a handful of lines earned him international recognition and the affectionate title “The Painter of Jerusalem.”
Yossi Stern (1923–1992) — Attributed
Woman with Opera Glasses
Pen & Ink on Paper, 9 x 12 in.
Unsigned; acquired NYC.
Charming mid-century pen-and-ink caricature of a refined woman, characteristic of Stern’s expressive line style.
Artist: Yossi Stern (1923–1992) — Attributed
Title: Woman with Opera Glasses (Untitled Line Drawing)
Medium: Pen & Ink on Paper
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Date: Mid–Late 20th Century
Signature: Unsigned
Origin: Acquired in New York City
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Authentication Notes:
This artwork is unsigned but attributed to Yossi Stern on the basis of:
Strong stylistic alignment with Stern’s caricature and figure drawings
Identical contour line characteristics found in authenticated Stern sketches
Provenance consistent with NYC dispersals of Stern-related works
Private Collection, New York City
Secondary Market, NYC
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC — Present Owner
