Arabs and Jews
1931–1935
In mid-1931, Helmar Lerski and his wife, Anneliese left Berlin for Palestine. Lerski had succeeded in interesting a French publisher Charles Peignot in a new book. Lerski's concept involved the depiction of Jewish people, "a document of the Jewish race… of lasting value and authoritative import". Lerski specified his conception in a latter to Peignot: "I want to show only the prototype in all its off-shoots, and, what is more, I want to show him so intensely that the prototype is recognizable in all later branches."
In mid-1931, Helmar Lerski and his wife, Anneliese left Berlin for Palestine. Lerski had succeeded in interesting a French publisher Charles Peignot in a new book. Lerski's concept involved the depiction of Jewish people, "a document of the Jewish race… of lasting value and authoritative import". Lerski specified his conception in a latter to Peignot: "I want to show only the prototype in all its off-shoots, and, what is more, I want to show him so intensely that the prototype is recognizable in all later branches."
Albert Einstein knew of Lerski's idea as early as 1930, when he wrote to Lerski:
"The Jews today are more a national than a religious community. The documentation of this type, a task as difficult as it may be, thus fulfills an active wish."
"The Jews today are more a national than a religious community. The documentation of this type, a task as difficult as it may be, thus fulfills an active wish."
In 1932, Lerski settled in Tel Aviv, where they remained until their return to Europe in 1948. He continued to work on his portraiture, expanding his concept for Jewish portraits by including numerous images of Arabs.
In 1932, Lerski settled in Tel Aviv, where they remained until their return to Europe in 1948. He continued to work on his portraiture, expanding his concept for Jewish portraits by including numerous images of Arabs.
Arab Vendor, 1933
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.6 x 22.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Arab Girl, 1933
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 22.5 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Arab Woman, 1933
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 23.2 cm | Titled and annotated on verso
Arab Fish Vendor, 1933
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.5 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Arab, 1933
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 23.5 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Arab, 1933
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.5 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
The Bedouin, ca. 1930s
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29 x 23.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Arab, ca. 1930s
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.8 x 22.6 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Yemenite from Aden, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 23.2 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Mother of the Talmud- Student, 1932. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.3 x 22.9 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Polish-Jewish Worker in Israel, 1934. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.2 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Rabbi in Israel, 1932. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Street Vendor in Israel, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 23.2 cm | Titled and annotated on verso
Jewish Woman from Afghanistan, 1932. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.6 x 23.2 cm | Titled and annotated on verso
Young Yemenite in Israel, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.6 x 23.2 cm | Titled and stamped on verso
Porter in Israel, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 23.2 x 28.6 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Jewish Colonist in Israel, 1932. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 23.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Young Yemenite, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.6 x 23.2 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Porter in Israel, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.6 x 22.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Porter in Israel, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Colonist in Israel, 1931. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled, annotated and stamped on verso
Caucasian Jew, 1932. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 23.5 cm | Signed on recto and titled and annotated on verso
Yemenite in Israel, ca. 1933. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.3 x 23.3 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Yemenite in Israel, ca. 1931–1934. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 23.2 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Yemenite Boy, ca. 1933. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.4 x 23.1 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Old Jew in Israel, ca. 1931–1934. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29 x 23.2 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Female Baker in Israel, ca. 1931–1934. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.9 x 24 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Jewish-Russian Colonist in Israel, ca. 1931–1934. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 29.2 x 22.9 cm | Signed on recto and titled, stamped and annotated on verso
Female Farm Worker on a Farm in Israel, ca. 1931–1934. Jewish Faces Series
Vintage gelatin silver print, 28.9 x 22.8 cm | Titled, stamped and annotated on verso
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