Obj. ID: 55706
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Purim poster, Jerusalem, 1902

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The subject of Purim was a popular theme in Jewish art.  This is a version done by the Persian immigrant artist Moshe Mizrachi. Mizrachi was one of the few people trying to make his living as an artist in the Holy Land at the beginning of the 20th century. It was not easy as the population was limited and poverty was widespread. Mizrachi worked in his own style and included local elements such as Turkish uniforms and costumes. That is evident in the composition. The composition seems to be an original one developed through Mizrachi’s perception.

Since the poster is dated 1902, it was probably published by the firm of Monsohn, the first publisher of color printing in the Holy Land and would seem to be one of the early works by this artist.

The design is exactly like that of another Purim sheet by  Mizrachi, only this one is much larger and not in color as is 039.011.022. Mizrachi worked at least until his last known published work in 1926, also in the Gross family collection. A painted glass Mizrach from his hand is present in the collection as well as another 7 lithographs designed by him.