The Bather, 1973
Bronze
70 1/2 x 22 x 24 inches
Biography
Malbin was born in Germany in 1917 and began her life as a member of the Zionist youth group in pre-war Berlin. Eventually, however, she was forced to flee to Switzerland at the commencement of World War II. It was in Switzerland, therefore, where she began her artistic career. In 1966 Malbin visited Israel where she purchased a house in the artists village of Ein-Hod, which is south of Haifa. From then on, therefore, Malbin split her time between her home in Israel and her previously established studio in Switzerland.
As an artist, Malbin was modest. She created and placed her works without the help of publicity, the support of an art gallery, or any affluent sponsor or collector. Quiet and peaceful, Malbin’s sculptures represent figures and animals in a pure and simply way, elucidating the humanity and vulnerability of her subjects.
The state of Israel was of great importance to Malbin and, therefore, she gave her life’s works in bronze to the people of Israel. Eventually, these works found themselves within a garden named Mizpor Shalom or the Peace Park in Haifa, Israel. Mizpor Shalom is the first open-air sculpture park in the world devoted entirely to the works of an individual female artist. Malbin’s work can also be found in other private and public gardens as well as in various private collections. In 1995 she was awarded a gold medal by the “’Arts, Science and Letters’” division of the “’L’Academie Francaise” for her lifetime work.
