Eleanora (Lily) Reinhold (Polish, 1905-1984)
Instruments de musique

signed 'E Reinhold' (lower right)
oil on canvas laid down on board

ARR

Dimensions: 42 x 33 cm. (16 1/2 x 13 in.)

Descendent of the artist

Eleonore Reinhold was a talented and accomplished painter whose career paralleled many of the defining moments of 20th-century European art. Born in Poland in 1905, she was part of a generation of women artists who challenged convention and carved out a space for themselves in the male-dominated art world. From an early age, she demonstrated a strong artistic sensibility and went on to study at the Cracow Academy of Fine Arts, where she received formal training in traditional techniques while also being exposed to the evolving modernist trends of the time.
It was at the Cracow Academy that she would eventually cross paths with Jan Ekiert, her future husband and lifelong artistic partner. However, before their personal and professional lives intertwined, Reinhold had already begun to establish herself as a painter of merit. Her early works were known for their sensitive compositions and confident use of colour, reflecting both academic discipline and a growing interest in expressive, post-impressionist forms.
The outbreak of World War II disrupted the trajectory of her career, as it did for so many artists of her generation. Nonetheless, following the war’s conclusion, Reinhold made the bold decision to relocate to Paris, a city that had long been a beacon for international artists seeking creative freedom and new inspiration. Once in Paris, she briefly attended the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, further refining her skills and connecting with the city’s thriving post-war art scene.
During this time, her work caught the attention of André Lhote, the influential French Cubist painter and teacher, who expressed admiration for her style and vision. Lhote’s support proved an important endorsement, helping to raise her profile within the Parisian art community.
Reinhold’s career flourished in the ensuing decades. She exhibited extensively, not only throughout France but also internationally, including in the United States, where her work was well received by collectors and critics alike. She became a regular exhibitor at the annual Salon d’Automne, a significant platform for contemporary artists in Paris, and like her husband, she was honoured with a solo exhibition at the esteemed Galerie Benezit a rare and prestigious recognition for a woman artist at the time.
Although she shared many exhibitions and influences with Jan Ekiert, Reinhold maintained a distinct artistic voice. Her paintings often focused on quiet interiors, landscapes, and nuanced portrayals of the human figure, all rendered with a lyrical sensitivity and a rich, painterly touch. The couple's shared retreat in Provence also served as a recurring source of inspiration in her work, with its sunlit fields and tranquil atmosphere providing the backdrop for some of her most evocative compositions.
Eleonore Reinhold-Ekiert’s legacy is one of resilience, dedication, and refined artistic vision. As both an individual artist and part of a remarkable creative partnership, she contributed meaningfully to the cultural dialogues of her time and continues to be celebrated for her elegant and emotionally resonant work.