Arabs and Jews
1931–1935
One of Lerski’s most important series revolved around the portraits from "Arabs and Jews, Palestine."
After multiple trips to Palestine beginning in 1931, Helmar Lerski left Berlin for Palestine. He had succeeded in interesting French publisher Charles Peignot in a new book with a concept focused on depicting Jewish people as "a document of the Jewish race… of lasting value and authoritative import":
"I want to show only the prototype in all its offshoots, and, what is more, I want to show him so intensely that the prototype is recognizable in all later branches."
After multiple trips to Palestine beginning in 1931, Helmar Lerski left Berlin for Palestine. He had succeeded in interesting French publisher Charles Peignot in a new book with a concept focused on depicting Jewish people as "a document of the Jewish race… of lasting value and authoritative import":
"I want to show only the prototype in all its offshoots, and, what is more, I want to show him so intensely that the prototype is recognizable in all later branches."
One of Lerski’s most important series revolved around the portraits from "Arabs and Jews, Palestine."
After multiple trips to Palestine beginning in 1931, Helmar Lerski left Berlin for Palestine. He had succeeded in interesting French publisher Charles Peignot in a new book with a concept focused on depicting Jewish people as "a document of the Jewish race… of lasting value and authoritative import":
"I want to show only the prototype in all its offshoots, and, what is more, I want to show him so intensely that the prototype is recognizable in all later branches."
After multiple trips to Palestine beginning in 1931, Helmar Lerski left Berlin for Palestine. He had succeeded in interesting French publisher Charles Peignot in a new book with a concept focused on depicting Jewish people as "a document of the Jewish race… of lasting value and authoritative import":
"I want to show only the prototype in all its offshoots, and, what is more, I want to show him so intensely that the prototype is recognizable in all later branches."
In his frequent correspondence with Albert Einstein, Lerski reflected on the state of the Jewish community. Einstein, aware of Lerski's idea as early as 1930, wrote to him:
"The Jews today are more a national than a religious community. The documentation of this type, as difficult as it may be, thus fulfills an active wish."
In 1932, Lerski settled in Tel Aviv, where he remained until his return to Europe in 1948. He continued his portraiture work, expanding his concept for Jewish portraits to include the series "Palestinian Portraits" and "Arab Portraits."
"The Jews today are more a national than a religious community. The documentation of this type, as difficult as it may be, thus fulfills an active wish."
In 1932, Lerski settled in Tel Aviv, where he remained until his return to Europe in 1948. He continued his portraiture work, expanding his concept for Jewish portraits to include the series "Palestinian Portraits" and "Arab Portraits."
In his frequent correspondence with Albert Einstein, Lerski reflected on the state of the Jewish community. Einstein, aware of Lerski's idea as early as 1930, wrote to him:
"The Jews today are more a national than a religious community. The documentation of this type, as difficult as it may be, thus fulfills an active wish."
In 1932, Lerski settled in Tel Aviv, where he remained until his return to Europe in 1948. He continued his portraiture work, expanding his concept for Jewish portraits to include the series "Palestinian Portraits" and "Arab Portraits."
"The Jews today are more a national than a religious community. The documentation of this type, as difficult as it may be, thus fulfills an active wish."
In 1932, Lerski settled in Tel Aviv, where he remained until his return to Europe in 1948. He continued his portraiture work, expanding his concept for Jewish portraits to include the series "Palestinian Portraits" and "Arab Portraits."
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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