R. B. Kitaj
A Life Forged in Displacement and Vision Ronald Brooks Kitaj, born in 1932 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was an artist whose journey mirrored the tumultuous currents of the twentieth century. His early life was marked by a sense of rootlessness; his Hungarian immigrant father departed shortly after his birth, leaving him to be raised by his mother, Jeanne Brooks, a woman who embodied resilience through multiple professions—teacher and steel…
The Lifeline
Scroll through R. B. Kitaj's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups R. B. Kitaj's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.