Obj. ID: 55707
  Sacred and Ritual  Purim poster, Jerusalem, 1902

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

An illustration from the Book of Esther, a leaf in colorful lithographic printing, was created by Moshe Ben Yitzchak Mizrahi (Shah). Jerusalem, 1902. This is a colorful stone lithograph, illuminated with golden ink with scenes from the Book of Esther. There is a larger page in black and white on the same subject by the same artist Moshe Mizrachi. This is also in the Gross Family Collection, 039.011.042.

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 a 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 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.

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 design by him.