Itzchak Tarkay (Israeli, 1935-2012) Lady in Red, 1

Updated September 18, 2026

Itzchak Tarkay (Israeli, 1935-2012), Lady in Red, 1981, an imposing hand-signed limited-edition color serigraph on paper from one of the artist's most recognizable periods of figurative printmaking. Numbered 174/350 in pencil at the lower left and signed "Tarkay" in pencil at the lower right, with the embossed Givon Prints publisher's blind stamp beneath the edition notation, an important identifying feature associated with Tarkay's authorized graphic editions.<br><br>The composition presents the elegant, languid female figure that became central to Tarkay's international reputation: a sophisticated seated woman in a sweeping scarlet-red gown, her stylized features and dark coiffure set against a richly orchestrated interior of turquoise, blue, rose, ochre and slate-grey passages. Tarkay's characteristic combination of simplified contour, saturated color, decorative pattern and poised feminine introspection gives the image an immediately recognizable presence. The exceptionally tall vertical format further enhances the figure's graceful silhouette and provides a dramatic architectural quality particularly well suited to substantial interiors and serious collections of modern figurative art.<br><br>Born in Subotica in the former Yugoslavia and later established in Israel, Tarkay became one of the most widely collected Israeli figurative artists of the late 20th century. His distinctive portrayals of elegant women, cafés and intimate interiors developed a broad international following, while his signed graphic editions remain an important component of his secondary-market collecting history. Lady in Red is especially representative of the vocabulary most closely associated with Tarkay - feminine elegance, flattened modernist space, strong chromatic contrasts and a sophisticated cosmopolitan atmosphere.<br><br>This example possesses several characteristics desirable to collectors: a hand-applied pencil signature, individually numbered edition 174/350, Givon Prints blind stamp, large vertical format, strong female subject and the vivid red palette for which Tarkay's figurative compositions are particularly sought after. The combination of artist signature, finite edition and publisher's blind stamp provides considerably more collecting interest than an unsigned or later decorative reproduction.<br><br>Presented within an elegant multi-layered mat measuring approximately 52 3/4 x 23 1/4 inches overall. The image retains strong, saturated coloration and excellent visual impact. The pencil signature and edition numbering remain clearly legible, and the publisher's embossed blind stamp is well preserved. No conspicuous tears, major staining or significant image losses are present. Not examined outside the mat.<br><br>A highly decorative and immediately recognizable example of Itzchak Tarkay's modern Israeli figurative art, combining the artist's signature female subject, dramatic red coloration, substantial scale, hand signature, numbered edition and Giv

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